MUMBAI , INDIA / POLITICS / APRIL 15th , 2013
By
Sailesh Mishra
Indian
Politics ‘Newest’ Vote Bank: Senior Citizens to Impact on 250 Loksabha Seats
in coming Election
Taking a cue from recent study “Social Media & Lok
Sabha Elections”, by IRIS Knowledge Foundation and supported by the Internet
and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), on how Facebook and other social media
will impact 160 seats in coming Election, what immediately came to my mind was
Elder Population impact on Indian Democracy. I have been trying to market this
idea since launch of Silver Innings in April 2008.
As on 2012 Senior Citizens Population in India is 100
million (10 crore) that comes to roughly 10% of Total Population. But when we take into account the Total Voting
Population i.e. 18+ age group, then Senior Citizens becomes roughly 26% of
Voting Population, here I have not taken into account Senior’s influence on
Family voting.
Indian Parliament has 543 constituencies / seats and this
26% strong Vote Bank of Senior Citizens will surely impact more then 250 constituencies.
This ‘new’ Senior Citizens Vote bank always existed but no one including elders
ever realised their strength . This time 2013/14 Parliamentary and State Election
will be change in new thought process towards our elders , they deserved to be
respected and cared for as our great tradition need to travel in this new speed
changing society .
I would be happy if any research agency or students take
up this interesting subject of ‘Senior Citizens Voting Impact on Indian Politics‘.
In recent times, since last 3 years there has been contestant
activity by most of the political parties to woo Senior Citizens by organising onetime
events, trips, goodies etc , but they have failed to make a concrete Long Term Policy
& Programme for doubling Ageing population . Government , Politicians and Political
parties are Ageing but they don’t bother about Ageing population , which many
demographer describe as ‘ Silver Tsunami ‘ , which will have huge economic and
social impact on India’s growth . Not to forget the same story will repeat in
most of the developing countries.
Due to advocacy and awareness campaign like ‘ 16th
August National Protest Day’ by organization’s
like AISCCON, Silver Inning Foundation and a united front called Join Action Committee
(JAC) since 16th August 2010 , of more than 32 All India
organisation’s working for and with Senior Citizens and newly formed Pension Parisad ; there has been marked improvement
in channelizing & mobilising Senior Citizens as united group demanding basic
rights from central and state governments . Senior Citizens pan India, has been
slowly realizing their strength and can’t be fooled any more by this goodies of
politicians.
Social Media including Facebook and Twitter, has added new
type of activism and in fact renewed the whole advocacy movement, Silver Innings
a pioneer in social media usage for ageing and many youth and elders have taken
this technology route for outreach and mobilising elders and their family.
Iam happy that , Elders like always will give shape to
our Future , whatever they demand today will be for betterment of more then 85%
of total population. This strengthen my firm view that ‘Our Elders Are Change
maker’s ‘, the change we all want to see.
About
Author:
Sailesh Mishra is Founder President of 'Silver Innings' a socail enterprise and Silver Inning Foundation,
a NGO working with Senior Citizens and has more then 6 years hard core activist
experience in Ageing domain . His unique PR and ICT tool usage for Ageing has
made him Internationally known Gerontology Consultant. He may be contacted at silverinnings@gmail.com
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