IT’S TIME TO STOP ELDER ABUSE IN INDIA

 

Our elders are like a treasure trove of experience and deserve respect, but why do they have to go through torture their children do.

 

Our senior citizens are one of the most vulnerable sections of society, but unfortunately, their plight is often ignored. It is quite appalling that their daughter-in-law and son are major culprits behind the abuse. Many pictures, videos became viral everyday, where people could be seen beating and abusing their parents and in-laws.

Though elder abuse is a growing international problem with several manifestations in different countries and cultures, in India, 71 pc of senior citizen are sexually, physically, mentally, and financially abused or humiliated by their own family members, relatives or children, widowed women faces more vulnerable and more severe forms of abuse and damage.

As per 2011 census report, the percentage of people above the age of 60+ in our country is 8.6%, but we have failed to provide them due respect, care, affection, safety and healthcare facilities, which older people need the most.

Experts say it can be a serious "silent crime" because it is not always reported; this abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual and financial in nature and it can be perpetrated by a relative or someone you trust.

According to HelpAge India (a charity platform that works for the cause of the disadvantaged elderly population) report- 82% of India’s elderly live with their families, however they are often subjected to ‘verbal abuse’, ‘neglect’  and ‘physical violence’.

The survey stated that 35% of elders faced abuse at the hands of their sons and 21% reported abuse by their daughters-in-law. About 2% of elders were abused by their house help, who is not a family member.

Many cases of adult abuse are reported in the newspapers because these people are easy targets of violence and criminal activity. But, society only gets to know about the problems that are reported, the innumerable cases of disrespect and neglect go unnoticed. Our elders are like a treasure trove of experience and deserve respect, but why do they have to go through torture their children do.

WHAT IS ELDER ABUSE,

As defined by the World Health Organisation WHO, ‘Elder Abuse (also called elder mistreatment, senior abuse, abuse in later life, abuse of older adults, abuse of older women, and abuse of older men) is a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person.’
Elder abuse is quite a sensitive topic, however it is an issue that is often avoided talking about or acknowledging that it exists.

TYPES OF ELDER ABUSE,

The common forms of abuse of elderly persons are as follows.
Physical abuse
Hitting, pushing, kicking
Inappropriate use of drugs or restraints
Psychological or emotional abuse - Insults, threats, humiliation, controlling behavior, confinement and isolation.
Financial abuse - Misusing or stealing a person’s money or assets
Neglect or abandonment - Not providing food, housing, or medical care

Sexual abuse - Elder sexual abuse is the forced or unwanted sexual interaction of any kind with an older adult. Some of the symptoms of sexual abuse may include- bleeding from anus or genitals, newly transmitted sexually transmitted diseases, pain of anus or genitals, pelvic injuries etc.

Abusive acts in institutions - physically restraining patients, depriving them of dignity (for instance, by leaving them in soiled clothes) and choice over daily affairs; intentionally providing insufficient care (such as allowing them to develop pressure sores); over- and under-medicating and withholding medication from patients; and emotional neglect and abuse.

ELDER ABUSE IN INDIA,

The prevalence of elder abuse in various parts of the world has been reported between 2.2 and 90.4%. According to some studies conducted in India, elder abuse prevalence ranges between 9.6 to 61.7%. Yet, elder abuse is an underreported issue. Only 59.47% people made an attempt to report, because of emotional, financial dependence , and  lack of effective legal deterrents.

Nearly one in five (19.4%) older adults reported some form of abuse. The types of elder abuse reported were physical abuse in 12 (3.3%), verbal abuse in 25 (6.9%), emotional abuse in 40 (11.1%), and financial abuse in 15 (4.2%) older adult participants. Financial reasons are the most perceived factor causing Elder Abuse.

A study has made some observations that, in India more than one fifth of the elders have experienced elder abuse and around 7 out 20 have been its victim on a daily basis.

Various surveys put the number of elders who have been abused from just over 50 pc to well over 70 pc. Some other surveys say that India has the worst record in terms of elder abuse across Asia and that despite a strict law against elder abuse being in place for 15 years, such cases have been rising across the country.

Though since 2007 India has had a strict law prohibiting elder abuse, the country continues to top the Asian region in the number of incidents of abuse, say reports. Property and inheritance are amongst top reasons for abuse as almost half of the elderly population of India has reported abuse, almost always by their children and other family members.

A report by LASI (Longitudinal Ageing Study in India), a national survey of scientific investigation of the health, economic, and social determinants and consequences of population aging in India, says that the abuse can be classified as physical, sexual, psychological, financial or neglect of parents. It adds that 23.7 pc physical ill-treatment occurs in the form of hitting, kicking, pushing, slapping, burning by their children or relatives. LASI adds that 52.6 pc elders experienced neglect and close to a quarter experienced economic exploitation 26.5 pc, which means misuse of an elderly person’s money, property and assets.

“Among these old souls, 37% of abusers misbehave with them by back answering, saying hurtful things, and ignoring them. 20% lock them up and restrict them to have a social life so that the victims cannot share their pain with anyone else, 13% go through mental torture done through silent treatments, pressurizing them to die, forcing them to transfer the properties on the abusers' name, 11%  are denied of their basic need as they are not provided with water, food, proper clothing, their health and even some of them are sexually assaulted” – The Hindu, publication.

HOW INDIAN LAWS PROVIDE PROTECTION TO OUR SENIOR CITIZENS,

According to a report published by the Technical Group on Population Projections for India and States 2011-2036, there are nearly 138 million elderly persons in India in 2021 (67 million males and 71 million females) and is further expected to increase by around 56 million elderly persons in 2031.

Maintenance of Parents Act (2007) – This law was amended twice, first in 2013 and again in 2018. Where, after the 2013 amendment, parents could be legally prosecuted by sons for not supporting their parents, the 2018 amendment also allowed daughters and sons-in-law to support their parents.

Parents and Senior Citizens Act (2007)- It allows state governments to start and maintain old age homes in each district. Senior citizens can apply for monthly allowance from their children, if they are not able to maintain themselves. Failure to do so by the children or heirs is punishable not only by them but also by a fine of Rs 5,000 or imprisonment for a term of three months or both.

While the amended bill in 2019 aims at the maintenance and welfare of parents and senior citizens, their basic needs are constitutionally guaranteed. It also talks about removing the cap of Rs 10,000, and includes the appointment of nodal police officers for senior citizens in every police station and a district-level special police unit with a helpline for senior citizens.

In addition, various religions have various provisions to protect the interests of senior citizens, some very specific such as the provision for maintenance of parents under Hindu personal law as contained in section 20 of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956. Legal provision for Similarly, there are such provisions in Muslim law, Christian law and even in Parsi laws.

Provisions have been made in the Constitution of India to protect the rights of people above the age of 60 years. At the same time, Articles 41 and 46 of the Constitution secure the right of senior citizens to employment, education and public assistance.

Apart from that, in 2021, the Central government launched a national toll-free helpline--14567 for senior citizens in India called the Elderline. It was set up by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJ&E) in collaboration with National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) and participating State/UT Governments. The aim of Elderline is to provide free information, guidance on pension, medical and legal assistance, besides giving emotional support, intervene in cases of abuse and rescue homeless elderly across the country.

“As many as 79,051 serviceable calls have been received by the helpline number over the period on issues, among 79,051 calls, 4,748 calls related to elder abuse, 2,040 calls related to old age homes and 1,856 calls related to emotional support between 1 October 2021 to May 2022,” says official data from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

But, in spite of all these laws and security steps, there is still a steady increase in the cases of abuse of elders in our country. The biggest problem is the lack of enforcement of these laws. Also these laws do not have such strict provisions which can compel people to behave in a proper manner.

Somewhere, these incidents gives mental trauma to our elders, as a result of which they take the extreme steps like suicide.

The National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) 2015-16 mentions in their survey that abuse as an important risk factor for suicide, and the overall risk of death by suicide in the elderly is double that of the younger population.

Though data is not readily available, there is adequate anecdotal information on the elders turning to suicide as a way out of their problems. A report by the NCRB said that in the state of Odisha alone, over 500 elderly persons died by suicide in 2013, a significant increase from 351 deaths by suicide in 2012.

The present scenario calls for serious consideration to the wellbeing of elderly people with special focus on socio-economic, financial, health, shelter and emotional needs.