Digpu Exclusive: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

In a move that could come as a massive relief for elder citizens in the state, the government has decided on punitive action against those who fail to take care of their elderly parents. The Bihar Cabinet gave the green signal to the proposal to jail those who are guilty of either abandoning their elderly parents or not taking care of them.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is commemorated each year on 15 June to highlight one of the worst forms of abuse and inequality in our society, elder abuse.

Elder abuse is any act which causes harm to an older person and is carried out by someone they know and trust such as a family member or friend. The abuse may be physical, social, financial, psychological or sexual and can include mistreatment and neglect.

It is a global social issue which affects the health and human rights of millions of older persons around the world, and an issue which deserves the attention of the international community.

World Elder Abuse Deserves Attention

WEAAD was officially recognised by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2011, following a request by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA), who first established the commemoration in June 2006.

In many parts of the world elder abuse occurs with little recognition or response. It is a global social issue which affects the health, well-being, independence and human rights of millions of older people around the world, and an issue which deserves the attention of all in the community.

Individuals, communities, municipalities and organisations come together across the globe to hold events on 15 June that raise awareness of elder abuse.

Horrifying Cases Of Senior Citizen Abuse

More than 71 per cent of senior citizens in India face harassment or humiliation by their own family members, relatives or children, a study has revealed.

“Based on our interactions with elderly people, it has been found that more than 71 per cent elderly…are being humiliated by their family members, relatives and others unknowingly, rather unintentionally,” sources said.

As per the survey, every second senior citizen is being “harassed or mistreated or humiliated by their own family members, children, relatives or others”.

New Law To Be Major Relief For Senior Citizens

In a move that could come as a massive relief for senior citizens in the state, the Bihar government has decided on punitive action against those who fail to take care of their elderly parents. The Bihar Cabinet on Tuesday gave the green signal to the proposal to jail those who are guilty of either abandoning their elderly parents or not taking care of them.

What this effectively means is that it will become compulsory for people to ensure proper care of their elderly parents, their health, happiness and welfare. Guilty children can even be jailed if elderly parents decide to lodge a complaint against them.

Estimates put the number of people in India above the age of 60 at over 100 million. Past surveys and research carried out by NGOs dealing with the welfare of the elderly have claimed that a large number of these senior citizens are often subjected to emotional abuse. In some cases, physical abuse has also been reported while leaving them to fend for themselves economically is by the most common problem.

Source: Digpu