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Understanding elders better
Major General Dhillon, Shyamlha Pappu and R. S. Gupta at the HelpAge discussion.
WHILE THE young may give useful tips to the elderly on how to live independently, they also need to be sensitised so that they look up to them with reverence and not treat them as liabilities. Eminence and experience of the aged cannot be brushed aside. Rather their ability - giving sane advice to someone who is at a crossroads in life and career - should be highlighted so that it dawns on the young and not so young that as responsible denizens they ought to be more caring and big-hearted towards the senior citizens. This was the line of thought at New Delhi's India Habitat Centre, where a `Forum For Empowerment Of The Aged' was held recently under the aegis of HelpAge India.
Speaking at the forum, Major General Dhilon, said: "A positive attitude and self-help can mitigate the problems being faced by the aged." He suggested tying up of transmitters, like in the United States, on their neck so that during emergency the local police station can be alerted.
Another important suggestion that emanated from the long discussion was that policemen wielding truncheons could play a motivating factor in instilling confidence among the elderly folks. During visits to homes of elderly couples they could share some light-hearted banter, pay electricity bills and maintain vigil on their backyard.
Delhi's police commissioner, R.S. Gupta, said, "No vibrant society can ever remain progressive unless it takes care of its human assets, both young and old. The vast experience of the aged should be utilised in a constructive manner for the benefit of our society." He said that he learnt Mahabharata and Ramayana not by browsing books but from the lips of his grandmother. He recalled getting public admonishment when as a youngster he had a heated argument with an aged person. "Now, the thinking of the youngsters has undergone a drastic change."
Dr. Shyamlha Pappu, a senior advocate of the Supreme Court lamented the break-up of the joint family and ruled out reposing faith in men in khaki.
She also mentioned a case, taken by her, of an elderly lady, who was harassed by her daughter. Said she, "But how many of the older generation can afford the apex court? We must establish a well-paid legal cell. There are elderly landlords being harassed by their tenants." An elderly man pointed out that neighbours are unable to intervene when people of the older generation face inhuman treatment from youngsters in their own family. Deserted by their near and dear ones, many have been forced to live the life of a recluse.
HelpAge India - founded by Jackson Cole - is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with an evangelical zeal to remove hurdles in the path of the aged. Its octogenarian president M.M. Sabharwal is an expert in the field of aging.
MADHUR TANKHA
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