A K Arora
Today is international day of Elders. Like many other international days being celebrated all over the globe, this day is celebrated to introspect as to what we have done or we are doing for the elders. Times have shown that this day is probably one of the least glorified day.It is nothing but our apathy. Being an international day it is also celebrated to moblise action for the welfare of the senior citizens.
Any citizen of India who is more than 60 years old is a senior citizen. According to census 2011 at present there shall be nearly 11 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 in various countries in different ways such as :-
Grand parents day is celebrated in United States and Canada, Respect Day for the aged in Japan Double ninth festival in China and similarly in other countries of the world including India.
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 the ever increasing number of 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 % of these elders die due to lonliness. Poverty effects 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.
There now is the problem of such of the destitute elders who have no one to look after them in their old age. Oold 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.
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 Oldage 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.
The State Govt. without framing any policy for the senior citizens enacted an Act ” Maintenance and Welfare of Senior Citizens Act 2014″ after seven years of the enactment of central Act. For the implementation of an Act rules are required to be framed. But in this case no rules were framed nor any Tribunals established for the purpose. Thus our senior citizens of the State continued to suffer without availing any benefits of the provisions of the State Act. Even no awareness was provided to the masses about the enactment of the Act which is an important factor in this case.
Abrogation of articles 370 and 35A from the Constitution of India has brought a ray of hope for the senior citizens. More than a 100 Central Acts which were not extended to the State of Jammu and Kashmir shall now be applicable to the citizens of the State/UT. The Association which was struggling to get an Act for the welfare of senior citizens right from it’s inception Is thankful to the Indian Government for abrogation of the articles.
With the enactment of the Act we shall find that every District shall be provided with an OLD AGE Home which is the dire necessity at present for the destitute senior citizens. A few such homes being run by N.G.O’s are not able to admit more number of senior citizens due to shortage of space. The administration has to move fast to establish such homes as well as provision of Tribunals at district level to enable aggrieved senior citizens for redressal of their grivences. The elders of our State have suffered in the past and the Association is sure that no inordinate delays shall happen now with the change taken place.
Besides above said provision there are lot many other privileges to be provided to the elders under the Act. No doubt that our society at large is socially bound to avoid elders from taking shelter in the old age homes the provisios in the Act shall act as deterent for the children to take care of their parents and incase othervise the parents are at liberty to take shelter of the Act.
The Association shall recommend that till such time Old Age Homes are established Day care centers be established not only in the cities of Jammu and Srinagar but even in the villages. Our Chief Justice of High Court has been pursuing these such facilities at various places in the State and we are grateful to her that she takes time off to take care of the Elders At one place a Panchayat Ghar has been earmarked for such a center.
Awareness of the various provisions of the Act needs attention. Let the elders as well as the youngsters know about it. The Association has been doing it at various levels but it’s awareness through various means of publicity at the command of the administration shall bring results.
We need not worry about senior citizens who can afford to spend for a better living in their grey period. Pay and Stay Homes are now common in various cities.One such home is also being run by Kashmiri Pandit Sabha in Jammu and as well as by Bee Enn General Hospital. However the Govt. can come forward for establishment of such homes by providing Govt. land on lease as also providing soft loans.
The Association once again thank the Government for the steps taken for enactment of the Act by it’s extension to the State/UT. and shall be available for any assistance required for the welfare of our senior citizens.
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