INDIA: Kerala Old Age Homes Fall Short of Space

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Kerala (NDTV.com), July 13, 2006: More and more old women are knocking on the doors of old age homes in Kerala, but there isn't enough room to accommodate all the ageing citizens of the state. Kerala has about 3 million people over the age of 60, the largest geriatric percentage in the country, and this figure is expected to go up to 8 million over the next 15 years. Among these is Gomathy Amma was rescued from the streets of Thiruvananthapuram a month ago. Abandoned and shunned by her family, the 72-year-old woman had taken refuge in a hospital verandah. "We have no house. Those who have house will they give us a roof. Our house was sold off by my children," said Gomathy Amma. Kerala has 15 per cent more old women than any other state. Most of them don't have an independent means of support and are often forced out of their homes or abandoned. Abandoned by children The exodus of young people looking for employment to the Gulf hasn't helped either, as they leave their parents to fend for themselves. "My five children can now manage on their own so they don't feel the need of a mother anymore. The need for mother is already over. Now no one cares about their mother," said Dakshayani Amma, an old age home inmate. Nevertheless, these women are lucky at least they have food, clothing, medicines and a roof over their heads. In fact, the waiting list at such old age homes is heartbreakingly long and there's no option. Even though there are pensions schemes for destitute old women and widows, the amount is far from adequate. So these old-age homes that are mostly run by NGOs are the only hope. "There are 50 to 75 old age women in our list to be taken in. Maybe they have been ousted from houses or maybe they are abandoned on the streets. If we start rehabilitating women in the waiting list, then 300 women can be accommodated in a year," said Ananda Kumar, Executive Director, Sri Sathya Sai Orphanage Trust. Financial Restraints But food and shelter is not enough. There's a high incidence of diabetes among these women. Clearly the finances are a problem, as old age plus disease poses a huge problem for Kerala ahead. "We have to accommodate even old age men only then we can do something for the society. If those who want to do something to the society at lest they should expand their work to include old age women problems," adds Ananda Kumar. The growing population of aged in Kerala calls for the urgent need for setting up a social security net for them. While the religious groups and NGOs have pitched in, much more needs to be done by the government to ensure a dignified life for the old people. © NDTV 2006 All rights reserved