Malerkotla: Dignified life eludes elderly

Malerkotla, August 21

There are many senior citizens who raised their children as princes but are now forced to live like tramps. Unable to buy books and journals to read during their free time, they repent having starved to support quality education of their wards.

Though some senior citizens do have houses, others live at old-age homes as they had sold their property to ensure their kids lead a dignified life. The majority of the inmates of old age homes have been deserted by their kids.

“My son is living in the same locality but he never visits my house where he was born and raised,” said a senior citizen regretting that he was not allowed to even meet his grandchildren. The elderly does all chores himself as his wife had passed away a few years ago.

A septuagenarian woman staying at an old-age home on the Barnala road said her sons had deserted her after the demise of her husband as the property had been divided among them (sons). “I am a mother and will not utter any word which dents their reputation in the society,” said the elderly woman.

Meanwhile, social organisations felicitated senior citizens of their respective areas on the occasion of the World Senior Citizens Day. Cops supervised by SSP Gagan Ajit Singh visited old-age homes and offered gifts and eatables to inmates.

According to a report of the Technical Group on Population Projections, the nation’s elderly population is expected to cross 193 million by 2031 against 103.8 million recorded in the 2011 census. The tendency necessitates the urgency of resolving issues related with economic security, social integration and healthcare, especially for senior citizens.

Though successive governments have claimed to launch the welfare schemes for the elderly, only a fraction of beneficiaries are able to get entitled facilities.