INDIA: Elders’ Welfare Act should be implemented, says Karnataka Governor

. BANGALORE, Karnataka / Deccan Herald / November 27, 2009 “Government should implement the provisions of ‘The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act of 2007,’ so that elders get their share of protection in their twilight years,” said Governor H R Bhardwaj. Speaking at the 19th anniversary of Senior Citizens Club on Wednesday he said that our society should encourage the joint family system, so that the coming generation would know the values and traditions our elders nourished. Dr D Nagaraj Director of Nimhans said that geriatric population is the most challenging and demanding group in India, as they suffer from both communicable as well as non-communicable diseases. “Elderly people are prone to mental morbidities due to ageing of the brain leading to disorders like dementia and mood disorders,” he said. The 1991 Census indicated that 6.58 per cent of the total population belonged to the 60-plus age group and the proportion is expected to go up to 9.87 by 2021. The ‘Padma Bhushan Dr M C Modi Service award’ was presented to Asha Jeevan Home for the Aged. [rc] Copyright 2009, The Printers (Mysore) Private Ltd.