Advertisers and
marketers are rediscovering the ‘purchasing power’ of the senior citizens. A
number of advertisements focusing on the senior citizens have proliferated on
television. All of them show healthy, energetic, carefree, happy senior
citizens. The punch lines are the usual – invest in this scheme / mutual fund
and remain carefree, plan your retirement (this one directed at the young so
that they remain carefree when old), take care of your health with this tonic,
be in a position where your hand stretches out to GIVE rather than
RECEIVE…. The bottom line in the ads is
a dignified way of life for the aged. Society finally seems to be waking up to
the needs and aspirations of this section of the population.
In most homes in the
middle and upper income groups, the process of ageing brings different
dimensions to life. One is loved, respected and cared for. Ones opinion is
valued and life has a meaning and dignity. This is the rosy side…
In the drought
affected regions of Maharashtra we have seen another side to the story.. a
darker side…
A 71 year old grandmother is taking
care of a 11 month old child. The child’s parents have migrated in search of
work. They were forced to leave the little girl who would not have been able to
take the strain of migration and the environment of a sugar factory. The old
woman is presently working on a road construction that gets her Rs.25 per day.
She manages this work and the home… The
child is unwell, she has fever. So does the grandmother. Going to the doctor is
out of question. The PHC is 5 km away and there is no guarantee that the doctor
will be there. Also if she spends a day in going to the doctor, she will lose
her wages and will have to starve. What will happen to them? “God will take
care and whatever happens will be as per His will” says the old lady
fatalistically.
An aged couple in a village near Nanded earn
their living by begging. Their children have migrated and have not taken them
along. ‘Not their fault’, says the old man. ‘They are barely able to manage
looking after their children in the wages they earn’…
These are not one-off
stories. This is the reality in almost every poor home in rural Maharashtra.
The aged are at the receiving end. They are plagued by poverty, ill-health,
lack of social security, malnutrition, isolation and lack of self-esteem. The issue is not that of apathy on part of
their children – the children themselves (in most cases) are poor and when
faced with the Hobson’s choice of caring for their children or parents, they
tend to favour looking after the children.
Incidentally, in the rural areas we find more widows as compared to widowers. While exact numbers are not available (we have not tried to gather these anyway) it is interesting… Is this situation because women tend to live longer than men or is it because widows don’t get / want to get remarried (as compared to widowers who do)…. It may be an interesting subject for research.
We have little social
security measures for the aged. The Niradhar Yojanas, the Awas yojanas, the
Antyodaya schemes are all nice on paper. They never end up reaching the
really poor aged. Even if they do, their reach is marginal. With graying of the
population it is estimated that 111 million aged will inhabit the country by
2012 (up from around 56 million in 1992). What will be the fate of the poorest
of poor amongst these? How many of them can we reach? Can we create a situation
where they can lead a life of dignity? Shouldn’t we do it now before it is too
late? Do we want to be known as a society that does not care for its aged?
The MAHARASHTRA
VIKAS NIDHI (MAHARASHTRA DEVELOPMENT FUND) awaits contributions from all of
you… Watch this space for further updates. Do also watch the updated
blog at www.greenearthconsulting.org/padayatraprogress.htm.
Also read a compilation of some stories on www.empowerpoor.org
grnearth@vsnl.com, 020-25466103,
09422521703
Dushkaal Hatawu :
Manoos Jagawu
(Eradicate Drought :
Save Humanity)
February 18, 2006