‘’Iam retired and not given any pention.My son abuses me as he thinks I have hidden my
money’’ says a sixty two year old man. ‘’At my son’s place, Iam given only two chapattis a day’’
says another sixty year old man.Beaten in body,mind and spirit paints a dark picture of senior
citizens in India.The survey reveals that daughter-in- law has emerged as the biggest perpetrator
of the abuse,with 61% of senior citizens blaming for their miseries.Helpage India highlights a
very sad state of affairs in the lives of the ‘’old in age-young at heart’’.There was a time when
young Indians would care for their parents and grandparents in the family and disapprove the
western culture.It is natural law that if we are born,we will die one day.When a person is aging
his physical and mental change,he also changes from an independent to dependent
person.Therefore after he has crossed the age of sixty,he should be given proper care and
medication by his children and family rather than considering it a burden.
The question that comes to mind is that whether there should be rights enforced for senior
citizen or should it be our duty to look after them?Forget about the rights that elderly enjoy in
India,just forget about the action that they can take.Think on moral grounds.Why do we tend to
forget that ‘the reason we are in this world,the reason we are able to study,the reason we are
able to face difficult situation,the reason we are able to walk and talk’ is our parents.When we
were kids we never thought of it but we knew no matter what,our parents will be our
savior.But when its our turn to show the respect,to reciprocate the love and to show our
gratitude,we back out.But the truth is that even when they are counting their last breath,they
still think of us!Hence it should be undoubtedly be stated that the so-called rights should rather
be our moral duty.There is however some benefits for those senior citizens who have been left
in the lurch by their children at the dusk of their lives.The Maintenance &Welfare Of Parents &
Senior Citizens Act,2007 offered that the senior citizens can now reclaim their property they
‘gifted’ in the name of their children,if their welfare and basic needs are not being fulfilled.An
aggrieved senior citizen can now approach tha Deputy Commissioner and reclaim his property
rather than paying futile visits to Court and awaiting outcome for several years.Section 23 of
the Act reads ‘’Where any senior citizen who,after the commencement of this Act,has
transferred by way of gift or otherwise,his property subject to condition that the transferee
shall provide the basic amenities and basic physical needs to the transferor and such transferee
refuses or fails to provide such needs,the said transfer of property shall be deemed to have
been made by fraud or coercion or under undue influence and shall at the option of transferor
be declared void by the Tribunal’’.This means that if the senior citizen decides not to reclaim
the property,he can make his children direct through the Deputy Commissioner to pay them
monthly maintenance of the property.Section20 (3) of Hindu Adoption & Maintenance Act
provides for the obligation of a person to maintain their parents according to financial
capability when they are unable to look after themselves.
1 st October is observed every year as the International Day of older persons.The Ministry for
welfare of senior citizen celebrates the occasion every year by organizing a series of
programmes and felicitating the distinguished senior citizen with ‘Vayoshrestha Samman’.The
idea behind these celebration is to reiterate the government’s commitment towards welfare of
elderly and to ensure that their services get its due recognition in society.The government
provides extra financial assistance to them by reservation of two seats in front row of the
buses,Indian Railway provides 30% concession on the ticket and Indian Airlines provides 50%
senior citizen discount on Normal Economy Class fare for all domestic flights.Complaints of
senior citizen in telecommunication are given priority by registering them under VIP flag.Free
medical and health services are also provided at various hospitals.In this way there should be
proper legal mechanism to make sure that welfare of senior citizens is ensured and that they
are not harassed.
One area in which India is said to be ahead of other developed western nation is the way we
respect and look after our parents and elderly.Its something for which we Indians feel proud
.With the fast-paced lifestyle and careers of young Indian,this characterstic is said to be
fading.Is this true?Does India care and respect its elders less than before?Is the youth becoming
too insensitive to elder like the west with nuclear families?Passing comments to an old man
walking slowly on the road and disturbing the flow of traffic are our ethics?Come on
youth,stand up against such injustice.Do not treat your parents like burden,especially when
they need you.
