We have failed miserably as a nation to take care of our senior citizens

It is sad to to see that unlike other countries senior citizens are not properly respected nor recognised by our society. There are many letters and articles that appear in many newspapers regarding their grievances. The statictics of the ageing population above the age of 60 was 2.5 million in 2012 and 12.5% of the total population and it will be 3.6 million elders in 2021 which is about 16.7% of the total. So far the Government has not given ear to their grievances not only to attract their votes but also more importantly to show humble gratitude towards senior citizens of this country. In 2000 a Government gazette notification – No-2 was issued regarding Senior citizens, but it has no teeth, so it is being ignored by government and private institutions as well as the general public. Some incentive has to be given to these neglected people who worked hard in numerous ways to bring up the present generation. It is only justifiable that senior citizens be given discounts for medicines, low cost hospital facilities and travelling, tax free bank accounts and other financial assistance for those who have no income.

The law should be strictly enforced so that the general public pay more respect and take care of elders. Those who have senior citizen identity cards should be shown due respect and given certain privileges at banks,offices and public places so that they would not have to stand in long queues. Public relations officers should play a leading role in this respect like in developed countries. K.A.Dayaratne Malabe