About 73 per cent of youths have accepted that elder abuse exists, yet there are cities such as Delhi where 92 per cent are not willing to intervene, followed by Chennai with 64 per cent and Hyderabad with 45 per cent. About 29 per cent youth feel that physical abuse and beating up is a common type of abuse and 30 per cent feel it is “being denied the basics, medicines and material abuse.” These facts were revealed in the report of a survey conducted by HelpAge India (HAI) on ‘awareness level, perception about elder abuse, experience of any kind of elder abuse and intent to take action’.
The report was released at a programme organised by HAI at a programme held in Dehradun on the occasion of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on Monday. The survey involved a total of 2000 respondents from 10 cities and between the age group of 25 to 45 years. The report revealed that in today’s society where trend of nuclear families is increasing day by day, 86.9 per cent youth advocate living in large joint families as a measure to prevent elder abuse, which according to HAI Uttarakhand State Head Dr Aapga Singh, would be like good days coming for senior citizens.
Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, the Uttarakhand Deputy Inspector General (Crime) SK Shukla emphasised, “It would be wrong to feel that senior citizens are somewhat less than the younger generation, because the fact is, they have more experience, more friends, they had more healthy food and breath more clean air. Senior citizens don’t require help, but emotional support. If there is a mobility issue with an elderly, he should become active on social media to fight isolation, and youth must encourage them,” he added.
Author leeladhar Jagudi said that an elder is a person, who has more experience and knowledge. Earlier, HAI interns from different universities staged a play titled Seekh depicting how each person must try to raise voice and take action against elder abuse as and when they experience or see it. Speakers from various fields also expressed their views on the occasion. Federation of Senior Citizens Association of Uttarakhand president TC Jain invited the youth to come forward and take action to reduce elder abuse in the society, stressing that youth is the most powerful and engaging change agent.