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NEWS ALERTS | Alarming rise in elder abuse in urban India
Alarming rise in elder abuse in urban India

Alarming rise in elder abuse in urban India

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published Published on Jun 22, 2014   modified Modified on Jun 23, 2014

There has been a phenomenal rise in the percentage of elderly who are abused by their own family members, and although most of the victims are aware of police helplines, they seldom adopt such solutions. What can be the explanation behind such social behaviour?

Based on a survey conducted in 12 cities across 8 states with a sample size of 1,200 elders covering both metro (Tier I) and non- metro (Tier II), the recently released report entitled Elder Abuse in India (2014) by HelpAge India shows that the percentage of elders abused went up drastically from 23% in 2013 to 50% in 2014. Among the elders surveyed, 67% are aware of police helplines. However, only 12% elderly victims approached the police. 

Is it the case that older people are emotionally attached to their families and they do not want to dissociate themselves from their families? The study points toward such a trend.  

Elderly victims cite that the primary reasons underlying their abuse are emotional dependence on the abuser (46%), economic dependence on the abuser (45%) and changing ethos (38%). Despite facing a rise in abuse from Daughters-in-law and Sons, 41% of those abused did not report the matter to anyone.  

It is worth noting that as per the Census 2011, the population of persons aged 60 year and above is nearly 10 crore in India. As per official estimates, 85 percent of elderly persons are economically dependent on their families (Sons and Daughters-in-law) whereas 2 percent are economically dependent on the next generation i.e. grandchildren.

In India, the economic status of persons aged 60 year and above is pathetic. As per one UNFPA report, India has the second largest population of elderly in the world and 3/4th of them reside in rural areas. Almost one-third of elderly live below the official poverty line.    

The key findings of the report are follows:

•In 2014 the percentage of elders abused went up drastically from 23% in the previous year to 50%.

•The elderly victims cite that the primary reasons underlying their abuse are emotional dependence on the abuser (46%), economic dependence on the abuser (45%) and changing ethos (38%).

•Verbal Abuse (41%), Disrespect (33%) and Neglect (29%) are ranked as the most common types of abuse experienced by the elderly. 

•Elders across cities were asked about the abusers within their family. The Daughter-in-law (61%) and Son (59%) emerged as the topmost perpetrators. This is a trend that is continuing from the previous years. Not surprisingly, 77% of those surveyed, live with their families.

•Though the national capital of Delhi ranked the lowest in elder abuse with 22 per cent amongst Tier I cities, it also indicated a marginal increase of the same from 20 per cent last year, showing a slow but disturbing growth. Bengaluru ranked the highest at 75 per cent among Tier I cities surveyed, while in the Tier II cities Kanpur was the lowest (13 per cent) and Nagpur highest at 85 per cent.

•Women seemed to be more vulnerable with 52% of them facing abuse as against 48% of the men surveyed. The report said that while the abuse has gone up, 41% of those abused did not report the matter to anyone.

•An interesting observation about the Reasons for Not Reporting abuse, is that in Metro cities there is marked ‘lack of confidence in the any person or agency to deal with the problem’ and also there seems to be a general feeling of “did not know how to deal with the abuse”. However “Fear of retaliation” appears in 3 out of 6 Tier II cities, unlike the Tier I cities.

•All elders surveyed seemed most aware of the police helpline at 67%. In the case of victims the awareness level continues to be high at 64% but only 12% approached the police.

•Nationally, the effective mechanisms perceived by all elderly to deal with Elder Abuse include “increasing economic independence of the abused (30%)”, “sensitizing children and strengthening inter-generational bonding (21%)” and “developing Self-Help-Groups of Older Persons to provide assistance and intervention (14%).”

•Many victims both in Tier I & Tier II cities pointed out “Developing an effective legal reporting & redressal system” is an important step for effectively dealing with Elder Abuse.
 
References:

Elder Abuse in India (2014) by HelpAge India (plase click here to download)  

Elder Abuse in India (2013), HelpAge India (please click here to download) 

Social Security Pensions in India An Assessment -Saloni Chopra and Jessica Pudussery, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol-XLIX, No. 19, May 10, 2014 (please click here to download)
 
Report on Status of Elderly in Select States of India, 2011
 
MAGNITUDE AND SPEED OF POPULATION AGEING (please click here to download)
 
Situation Analysis of The Elderly in India,2011 (please click here to download)

Give Universal Pension for a Dignified Life (please click here to access)  

MORE EVIDENCE ON THE NEED FOR OLD-AGE PENSION (please click here to access) 

50% elderly in country face abuse, study says -Payal Gwalani, The Times of India, 16 June, 2014  

Elderly Women More Vulnerable to Abuse Than Men: Report, Outlook, 13 June, 2014  

Universal pension for Indians -Kenneth Apfel, Live Mint, 24 March, 2014

Pension Parishad members criticize Interim Budget for 2014-15 -Press Release Pension Parishad, Press Release Pension Parishad, 18 February, 2014   

Government spends just Rs 124 each on 10 crore people aged 60 years and above -Subodh Varma, The Times of India, 21 December, 2013   

A case for universal pension -Jayati Ghosh, Frontline, 27 December, 2013
 
Image Courtesy: Himanshu Joshi  


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