Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Dec 21: The population of the elderly in India is continuously increasing and the problems they are facing are also increasing simultaneously. About 60 percent of the elderly couples in India are forced by their children to leave their homes. So, the number of people in old age homes is constantly increasing and also most of the parents are now choosing to live in
old age homes rather than living with their children.
According to Ravindranath Shanbhaug of Human Rights Foundation, it has been recorded that 192 senior citizens were forcibly sent out from their homes and families, of which 43 cases have been settled by approaching their children.
Kamalamma, from Bellavi village, Tumkur, had been in service for 32 years. She had 8 acres of own land and her son-in-law took it and sold it for Rs 1 crore. She was being tortured by her second daughter Nagalaxmi for money. Now Kamalamma has lost everything and stays in an old age home.
Sixty-five-year-old Vishalakshamma is another woman from Bengaluru who works on a power loom. She has a daughter and a son. Her son had forcibly taken away the RTC from her. Now, she has regained her property after long years of battle in court.
At present she resides at Satsanga Ashram and has voluntarily joined the service for fighting such cases. She says, “No one should get into a situation like mine. I suffered a lot to get my freedom.”
“Nearly 30 similar cases have been recently found in the Silicon Valley of India where most of the victims are widows. There are men also but they are fewer in number,” said Shanbhaug during the conference meet. He added, “Even sub-registrar or commissioners do not have in-depth information about the Senior Citizens’ Protection Act. It is better that the NGOs should meet their children before going to the assistant commissioner to file a case. Two people out of the 192 cases, died recently.”
Another is that of 76-year-old Rajalaxmi from Tumkur. She has four daughters and led her life with the help of her meager savings. When she lost her right leg to severe diabetes, her second daughter Theja transferred all the documents to her name. Now, Rajalaxmi is completely bedridden. After a case was filed, Tribunal Justice C L Anand, Tumkur, once again transferred all the documents from Theja to Rajalaxmi and ordained that the latter’s family must send her Rs 2,000 every month for her care.
Savithramma, (86), and Pushpa from Sringeri were also abandoned by their children after they got married. The number of such cases is increasing day by day. In India, the moral duty is thrust on children to care for their parents, but things have changed in reality. Most of the children are not willing to take on the responsibility and would not like to spend money on parents nor want to maintain emotional bonds with parents. This is mainly due to a fast life, money-oriented minds, inflation, and busy schedules. This way, elders are being neglected.
It’s time everyone realized that our parents need us till the end and create a strong emotional bond with them. They should not be treated as a burden.