Bihar records highest share of elderly persons ill treated in India
At least five per cent of India’s elderly population (aged 60 years and above) stated they experienced ill-treatment in 2020, according to Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI).
LASI is a national survey of scientific investigation of the health, economic, and social determinants and consequences of population aging in India.
Abuse of the elderly is a growing international problem with several manifestations in different countries and cultures. It is a fundamental violation of human rights and leads to several health and emotional problems.
The abuse can classified as physical, sexual, psychological or financial. The ill-treatment is relatively more frequent among elderly women and those living in rural areas, according to the report.
A lot of women lose support as they lose their partners to old age, according to the survey. This group of people generally has no income source or economic activity.
The pervasiveness of the practice among the elderly was proportionately more in Bihar (12 per cent), Karnataka (10 per cent), West Bengal (8 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (6 per cent), Chandigarh (6 per cent) and Chhattisgarh (6 per cent).
Among the elderly who felt ill-treated, 77.3 per cent complained of verbal / emotional ill-treatment that can harm their self-worth or emotional well-being.
Almost a fifth experienced physical ill-treatment (23.7 per cent); this occurs when a senior is wound due to hitting, kicking, pushing, slapping, burning, or other show of force.
Close to a quarter experienced economic exploitation (26.5 per cent), which means misuse of an elderly person’s money, property and assets. More than half experienced neglect (52.6 per cent).
Among those who reported as experiencing ill-treatment, the victims of physical ill-treatment were the highest in Arunachal Pradesh (45 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (43 per cent), Tamil Nadu (40 per cent) and Puducherry (41 per cent).
At the same time, elderly respondents experiencing verbal / emotional ill-treatment was the highest in the states of Uttarakhand (100 per cent), Chhattisgarh (97 per cent), Tripura (94 per cent), Tamil Nadu (89 per cent), and Andhra Pradesh (85 per cent).
More elderly experienced economic exploitation in Chhattisgarh (53 per cent), Delhi (52 per cent), and Uttar Pradesh (48 per cent). They experienced neglect more in southern states such as Andhra Pradesh (87 per cent), Telangana (68 per cent) and Tamil Nadu (69 per cent).
The obstacle of elder abuse cannot be adequately solved if older people’s essential needs for food, shelter, protection and access to healthcare are not met.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.