A K Arora
It was on 14th. of Dec.1990 that United Nations General Assembly voted to celebrate the Elders Day on 1st of October every year as recorded in resolution 45/106(1)The day is celebrated by all the members of the United Nations..
The theme of the Elders day 2018 is” Celebrating elder human rights champions”
Any citizen of India who is more than 60 years old is a senior citizen. According to census 2011 there are nearly 10 crore elders in India and the number is likely to grow to 17 crores by the year 2026. It is estimated that by the year 2050 the number of senior citizens shall be more than the youngsters
The day is celebrated to raise awareness about issues of the elders as also to appreciate their contribution to the society. Being an international day it is also to mobilize action for the benefits of senior citizens..
WORLD ELDERS DAY
The day is celebrated in various countries in different ways such as :-
India is a country where the life expectancy is increasing fast. The life span which was only 30 years at the time of Independence has now been projected as 67 years. Thus it is very important to spread awareness amongst the youth to take care of their elders. The Govt is equally bound ,under Article 41 of the constitution of India to safe guard the interests of the Elders.
The old age brings with it many age related problems. The level of problem becomes serious when there is none to attend. Losing one’s life partner at this age causes immense problems, the main being the lonliness. 20 percent of these elders die due to lonliness. Poverty affects the elders and more so the females.The diseases are chronic in nature. The reflexes become weak. It has been established by researchers that there are nearly 125 diseases connected with old age.
Thus there is a dire need to look into the soloutions to take care of such a huge number of elders in their old age.
Day Care Centers is the answer at least to the problem of few active elders at home during the day . Many such day care centers are running at various places in the country where recreation facilities are available and in few cases counseling on health is also available. These centers are being run mostly by NGOs and financed by the Central Govt. In our opinion some of the N.G.O.s should be encouraged to establish such day care centers with a liberal grant-in aid by the Govt. All districts of the state should be covered under this scheme. We have one Senior Citizens Rejuvenation centre at Trikuta Nagar Jammu where elders meet in the evening
There now is the problem of such of the destitute elders who have no one to look after them in their old age. Old Age Homes is the solution to this problem . We have such a good home in Jammu at Amphalla. This is being run by an N.G.O. of course with a little grant -in -aid from the State Govt. There exists a few more such homes at various places . As a matter of fact the central policy on older persons as well as the Central Act 2007 binds the state Govts. to establish at least one such home at each district head quarter.
We in Jammu are fortunate to have Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine and a designated Board to look after its affairs with sufficient financial resources. The shrine board can definitely come forward to establish such a home. The shrine board has recently established a Super Speciality Hospital at Kakrayakl, Katra. One Old Age Home for the destitute or a Pay and Stay Home for the affluents should be the next project.
There is one nearly 70 percent completed Composite Home at Har Ki Pouri Bahu Fort . The Association members visited the site and also had an interaction with the Trustees. The trust needs Funds to complete it. Necessary steps are being taken by the Trust to comission it shortly. The civil society should come forward to the rescue of the Trust for completion of the Home.
There are many Sabhas like Kashmiri Pandit Sabha, Mahajan Sabha, Rajput Sabha , Brahmin Sabha and so on with comfortable financial resources. Why cant these Sabhas come forward and establish Homes for the senior citizens? Jammu Yatri Bhavan at Haridwar is an example before us. Recently Kashmiri Pandit Sabha has established a Pay and Stay Home at Amphalla, Jammu. The Association is approaching the other Sabhas to follow.
Jammu and Kashmir Bank has creditably notified its commitment for the society out of their Corporate Social Responsibility. The Bank needs to take care of the senior citizens, being a noble cause and establish a Home for the senior citizens one each at Srinagar and Jammu.
In urban areas the problem is little different. Most of the elders get substantial pension and are capable of spending for their comforts in their fag end of life. Their children shall also love to have such an arrangement to see their elders live in comfort especially the ones who are working out side the State or the country. Pay and Stay Homes is the solution for such elders.
We have one with the name Aashraye at canal road, run by Bee Enn General charitable Hospital. . Being more or less a commercial proposition these Homes are to be established by the civil society, Bank loans can be made available and the Govt can definitely come forward for allotting some land on lease or on nominal cost. The stigma earlier associated with staying in a pay and stay home is gradually reducing and thus a dire need to establish such a home.
Govt. of India formulated a National Policy On Older Persons followed by enactment of The maintenance and welfare of parents and senior citizens Act, 2007. The Act binds the States for establishment of Old Age Homes, Provisions for Medical Care, Protection of life and property and many more provisions for the welfare of senior citizens. are embodied in the Act. However the Act was not extended to our State, thus depriving the Elders of the state of the benefits which flow from the various provisions of the Act. So far we do not have any such our own State Act nor any State Policy. Thus the whole responsibilty lies on our Civil Society. The response which the civil society has been giving to various NGOs is before us and we are confident that without waiting for the Govt. to come forward the civil society can handle the problem .
As stated above the celebration of Elders Day is to bring awareness amongst the youth for their responsibilities towards their Elders.. As is known to all of us awareness is very important aspect in all the fields of activity. Print and Electronic Media are the right sources to come forward for this purpose. With the latest technology awareness can reach the remotest corners.
Concluding the Association feels strongly that the State Govt. must frame a State Policy as also either extend the central Act or enact its own Act for the welfare of the Elders. Secondly the Civil Society must also come forward to the rescue of elders. Corporate Houses also need to help the society by establishing homes for the elders. Print Media needs to highlight the problems and misiries of elders to the notice of authorites.
The Association is grateful to the State Govt. for covering the State Employees and the pensioners under the Group Insurance scheme launched recently. We are equally grateful for providing old age pension to maximum no. of elders of course with a petty amount of Rs. 1000.00 P.M.
The author is President, association for Welfare of Senior Citizens (Regd)
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