Crimes against senior citizens have seen a manifold increase in the recent past. Left at the mercy of domestic helps and neighbours, they fall an easy prey to such crimes. As a result, they have developed a life full of danger, tension and loneliness..GURGAON, Haryana (MeriNews), June 5, 2008:
By Citizen Journalist Bhawana Pandey
IT IS an age-old tradition to consider an elderly person as a respectable member of society, an asset, a wise counsellor and not a burden. An influential person, devoting his or her time and talent for the welfare of the entire neighbourhood is still a sought-after presence.
Gradually, due to various reasons like evolution of small family and nuclear family concepts, charm of peaceful but introvert life converted the image of that loveable local guardian to that of a financially sound recluse trying to live a independent life. As a result, society has lost a valuable presence amongst them and these senior citizens have developed a lifestyle full of dangers, tensions and loneliness.
Becoming a stranger within a neighbourhood, they started a process of dependence on domestic helps. This dependence developed to over-dependence and with no interaction to other families in vicinity and relatives, these people threw themselves totally at the mercy of these culturally, ethically and financially inferior domestic helps.
No wonder, a moment comes when these domestic helpers decide themselves or due to motivation by some hardcore criminal to loot their master and if circumstances demand, they might turn violent or even murderous.
Senior citizens who are living alone or with their spouse and have opted to live their life independently, have to depend on domestic helpers due to their age and physical conditions. In most of the cases, they rely on these servants and develop blind faith on them. They do not pay attention to advice of police authorities. They must inform about the new servant they have employed to the near by police station for verification. But in most of the cases, this formality is not seriously taken.
As a result, these criminals easily enter the targetted families. Then in a few days’ time, they win the confidence of their masters and then go on planning the crime with help of other associates. Over the time, they come to know about every nook and corner of the house and learn the regular habits of their masters.
Some times, even servants of long standing and good records are also persuaded by the criminals to assist them in such crime.
The concept of community living is one of the solutions to protect the senior citizens. Under this concept, there is a direct interaction between society and senior citizens. These people have lifelong experiences and the society must be benefitted by it. In return, the young and able must take care of them so that they are not forced to live an isolated life. Such social networking with healthy and positive interaction is sure to protect them from any kind of ill-treatments.
In one such example, Agnihotri (80 years) and his wife (75 years), live alone in their house, have employed domestic helpers but are not dependent on these helpers. They have direct interaction with their neighbours and are successful in leading their independent lifestyles.
Another popular solution is that of maintaining senior citizens homes. These homes are run keeping in mind the basic amenities such as medical help, kitchen, library and security, etc especially with reference to elderly people. People opt to live here by paying their expenses.
Basically it is the responsibility of government to look after and provide financial assistance to such progammes. The roles of non-governmental organisations ( NGOs) is also important.
Chinmaya Mission, a religious-social organisation provides such facilities on non commercial basis. It is especially suitable to people having spiritual and religious inclinations. One such facility is at Mandhana (Kanpur), known as Pitamaha Ashram. It is located about two kilometres from GT road, having a large campus full of greenery and a temple in it.
RP Shukla, a retired principal and Manju Shukla, who are closely connected with ’Art of graceful ageing’ movement of mission are a regular visitor of this ashram. They said that the ashram is running very successfully. About 35 to 40 members live here. The monthly charge is Rs 1,200 per individual. It provides separate rooms. One can live with spouse also. Breakfast, lunch, evening tea and dinner are provided according to a well maintained timetable. A well qualified doctor makes daily visits. The spiritual and intellectual needs are in main focus and looked after during religious discourse and similar activities but there is no compulsion. The members are free to live according to their own lifestyles. The ashram is also successful in developing harmonious interaction with the residents of near by villages, who are encouraged to actively participate in the functions organised by the ashram.
Source: http://www.merinews.com
