‘Create awareness about rights of elderly’

LUCKNOW: A survey conducted by an NGO – Social Collective Action for Research and Development (SCARD) and Ishaan Sunshine revealed shocking facts about abuse faced by senior citizens in Lucknow.

“Irrespective of their financial status, most of the elderly people face abuse in one form or the other. It was found that 59% of seniors are poor with no source of known income, 33% have money or properties, savings, investments, inheritance and/or supportive children,” pointed out Vipin Agnihotri, president, SCARD.

As part of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, observed around the globe (June 15), the volunteers of SCARD interacted with over 500 elderly people in various localities of Lucknow. The survey was conducted to understand the cause and effect of elder abuse in Lucknow homes.

Denial of food, medicines, emotional blackmailing, threatening, shouting and beating were found to various forms of abuse besides severe cases such as being tied up in case of disability. “The government must create awareness about the rights of elderly people, advocacy of old age issues at all levels of governance and ensure implementation of policies pertaining to protection of interests of senior citizens,” pointed out Priyanka Gupta, president of Ishaan Sunshine.

In all, 13% of those surveyed said they had been physically harassed or assaulted, while 21% said they were denied the basics. Another 11% quoted mental torture and 18% elders cited restrictions on their social life.

Misbehaviour and ill-treatment were cited by 30% while 7% cited other forms of harassment.