Letter to the Editor 01-10-2014 International Day of Older Persons Dear Editor, On December 14, 1990 UN General Assembly in an epoch-making Resolution No.45/106 established and designated the first day of October every year to be celebrated as the International Day of Older Persons. This almost unanimous decision of the world body was taken in order to create awareness of issues pertaining to the older people and, more importantly, to recognize and appreciate the contributions that the older people make to the society. Earlier in 1978 the US had by a Presidential proclamation instituted the Grandparents Day “to honour grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to love to their children’s children, and to help children become aware of strength, information and guidance older people can offer.” Senator Jennings Randolph who piloted the motion in US Senate earnestly called upon the younger generation to “adopt” a grandparent for a lifetime rather than be content with remembering him just for one day in a year. In a demographic Survey undertaken in 2013 the global population of older persons above the age of 60 has been estimated at 841 millions as against 661 millions in the year 1990. If this trend continues, the survey concludes with an astounding projection of senior population of 1.4 billion in 2030. 24 years ago when the International Day of Older Persons was sanctified by the UN, the proportion of senior persons above the age of 60 was 9.2% of the total population of the world whereas the same stands at 11.7% now. But such a phenomenal increase in the number of elderly persons in the world is not as alarming as it appears to be. It is not abnormal in view of the appreciable decrease in death rate owing to rapid strides in innovative growth and development in medical science. The general consciousness among the seniors about healthy living contributes, in a great measure, to a longer life span. Secondly, as a result of worldwide consciousness of the need for birth control, the population of new comers has steadily decreased thus creating an apparent imbalance in proportion of older persons population. The UN and its specialized agencies like the UNESCO and WHO have acknowledged with great concern the physical, socio-economic and psychological problems affecting the older people. The human body, like any other matter, is prone to gradual decay culminating in death .So it is but natural that with ageing when the power of immunity or resistance dwindles a person becomes more vulnerable to diseases, and even disability. This is an inescapable physical problem that the elderly persons have to face. It is the primary responsibility of any welfare State to take care of the ailing senior members of the society by launching special drives for their periodic overall health check-up followed by free or subsidized treatment including invasive surgery where necessary. For the benefit of the poor and the helpless, the destitute and the diseased with no ostensible support, governments of various countries have set up old age homes or senior citizens’ homes. Although it is a commendable social welfare measure, such homes often lack basic requirements like sufficient free air and light, healthy environment and hygiene, quality of food and service. Let us not forget that we are dealing with human beings in distress, who still have the right to live a dignified life. They do not need affluence but do deserve our love and compassion. Let the government home be not a dingy shelter house but a sweet home. As a result of failing health, a person’s interaction with the society in which he had been living all along and his involvement with its affairs and activities, become inevitably yet predictably, dormant. A feeling of alienation, a sense of worthlessness and loss of identity haunt his mind and torment his soul. His social honour is eroded and life appears blank and meaningless. Unwittingly he glides into deep depression which, in a cyclic order, makes him sick further. These persons in the heydays of their lives have contributed, each according to his ability, to the wellbeing of the society. In the dusk when the light of their life is fading, they need no material reciprocation but a little gratitude, a small recognition with respect. A man is not only a “feeling” creature, but he has to live a life of stark reality. The income earning capacity of a senior becomes nil or is substantially curtailed. He retires and is out of employment. He cannot engage himself in any productive or gainful enterprise partly because of physical constraints and mostly because of lack of opportunities or reluctance of an employer to hire a secondhand product. He has, therefore, no alternative but to depend upon his life’s savings, if any, or the inadequate pension or paltry social security benefit. To add to his financial agony, as a consequence of devaluation of money and spiraling inflation that the country’s economy faces, the real value of his income from savings or fixed pension or social security benefit becomes more illusory than “real”. It is, therefore, in fitness of things that the government and even the private sector must undertake periodical restructuring of the pension and social security benefit taking into consideration the cost inflation index. Harihar Panda Au Cap, Seychelles
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 06:21:49 +0000