Despite tall talks on protection of the elderly people, they remain ignored and isolated in the fast paced society, with few having time and patience to hear them and redress their sufferings. Welfare of the elderly people still remains a challenge in many States, particularly in Odisha.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) census data reveal some startling facts about the status of the elderly in Odisha. As per 2011 Census, against the national average of 8.5 per cent, Odisha has 3.98 million elderly persons aged 60 years and above, constituting 9.5 per cent of the total population. Out of them, around 86 per cent of the elderly live in rural areas.
Financial and social status of most of the elderly persons has become vulnerable due to many reasons. Abused, tortured and neglected, about 95 per cent of the elderly do not get pension or retirement benefits. living in destitution, more than 50 per cent of the rural elderly are bound to work in old age.
Over 68.5 per cent elderly having an income of Rs1,000 per month or less live below poverty line (BPl) category where as 27 per cent elderly have an income of Rs 12,000 or less. Earning of 13 per cent elderly is limited to Rs 12,000 to Rs 24,000 per month. Only 14 per cent elderly earns Rs 24,000 to Rs 50,000 per month and 6 per cent elderly have more than Rs 50,000 income to lead a financially stable old age.
This financial instability affects old age health problems. Healthcare of BPl elderly under NRHM is yet to be fully developed. The coverage of RSBY benefits among the elderly is almost nil in the State. Rs300 given as Old Age Pension (OAP) is not enough to support even basic needs of the old age.
Apart from financial instability and poor health, increasing attacks on senior citizens have raised concerns over security, particularly of the lonely aged persons.
As per a study, 80 per cent elderly persons face negligence and abuse in family that make them vulnerable, not only financially or physically, but also psychologically. The report also suggests that policy and programme interventions should consider various dimensions of vulnerability which are being faced by the elderly in the State, such as poverty, economic compulsion to work, widowhood, high level of dependency, age related morbidity and high healthcare costs. Income insecurity and a high degree of dependency result in significant vulnerability among the elderly in general and elderly women in particular given the high proportion of widows in the State. Measures to improve the coverage of social security schemes to all elderly from BPl households and reduce their financial burden will make a difference in their lives.
Considering enormity of the situation, finally the State Government has declared to frame a special policy and set up a special department to address socio-economic and geriatric concerns of elderly people. Delay in issue of the notification to make it fully functional also is an impediment to implement of the policy.
Though there are some old age support schemes and programmes being implemented as per the provisions of National Policy for Older Persons (NPOP) 1999 and MWPSCA, 2007, the State still awaits formulation of an old age policy, although the State old pension scheme was introduced in 1975. Social security schemes are coordinated and implemented by the Women and Child Welfare Department.
A State policy for senior citizen has been a long time demand by HelpAge India and Senior Citizen Associations in the State. “The population of senior citizens is on rise, about 10 per cent of the population. The system needs to be in place to cater to the needs of senior citizen towards a life with dignity and care. let’s look at them as experienced and rich resources rather than mere burdens and this small change in thought can bring in revolution in the society and in the lives of elder generation,” suggests Odisha State Head at HelpAge India, an NGO working for the elderly, Bharti Chakra.
The demand for a separate department to address issues of the elderly persons finally has materialized but it is still under the management of the Secretary, Women and Child Development Department. Yet, members of the Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of Odisha are hopeful. “We have complete faith that the newly formed department will be able to address problems of senior citizens to provide overall solution to the problems of the elderly,” remarks Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of Odisha president Krupasindhu Sahu.
As a major stakeholder for welfare and maintenance of the elderly in the country, the Government should plan for economic upliftment, social security and geriatric problems of the senior citizens. It is high time the State ensured preventive, curative, restorative and rehabilitative needs of the old persons. Implementation of State Policy on Senior Citizens in the State in line with National Policy on Senior Citizens immediately with adequate budget provisions will be a befitting act.