By Kaushal Kishore*
Right before the general election for the 18th Lok Sabha the NITI Aayog published a position paper on the issue of the elderly. The political class is not unaware of one of the potential voting classes, often ailing but still seriously thinking about how to improve Indian democracy. However, this issue of geriatrics was not noticed like the other paper on the Hindu-Muslim binary to define the population trend in 65 years after independence and partition of India.
Five years ago, a National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) expert panel advised the government to introduce the Switzerland model of ‘Senior Care Time Bank’ in addition to increasing the old age pension from Rs. 200 to 2000 and also establishing new old age homes for a rising number of senior citizens. India could further promote cooperative schemes combining the silver economy with the noble systems of senior care and address the riddles of geriatrics.
NITI Aayog in its position paper, Senior Care Reforms in India, estimated that in the next 25 years, one-fourth of India’s population was going to be elderly people. This meant the population of senior citizens would be equal to the total population of the United States.
Advancements in medical science, especially geriatrics, in recent times, increased the average span of life. But the quality of life continues to deteriorate after age. Physically the elderly feel unable to carry out their daily lives and need actual help. In addition to the promotion of the silver economy, the NITI Aayog’s paper focused on the use of modern technology.
Ancient Indian civilizations and the Vedic texts mentioned human life divided into different ashrams. Two out of the four texts have described how to deal with old age. After the household, an individual is advised to join the Vanaprastha Ashram leaving all family responsibilities with a view to start austerity to prepare for Sanyasa Ashram to attain salvation.
Aryans’ lives were based on the four different varnas and four separate Ashrams. The life of an individual in the ancient Indian community used to move around them. But the path of sacrifice is not always so easy, as such only a few people would have been interested in it. The leftover of ancient tradition is still alive in India and it needs state aid since modernity has closed the doors available to them for ages. Political parties share schemes to help different classes of voters in their manifesto, but they are nowhere in their plans. The census data of such a mendicant class is also not available, but it’s estimated around 8 to 10 million in the 21st century.
Old people often suffer from various diseases, and due to that weakness and changes in behavior are reported in most of the cases. Providing emotional care and support in addition to the treatment of diseases is a must requirement. The physical weakness leads to mental weakness creating irritations, disappointments, dementia, etc. Due to that sometimes certain caregivers get into trouble.
Here is the story of Anu, one of the caregivers. She used to serve an 80-year-old lady in a prosperous family. One of her two sons lived in Canada and the other looked after the family business in Delhi. The resourceful son had a strong desire to serve the mother, but time constraints compelled him to seek help from the caregiver for his ailing mother suffering from dementia. The mother would get angry and start to abuse and hit the caregiver with a stick. But still, she used to serve her with the utmost care, love, and dignity. Sometimes the mother complained that the caregiver beat her, and the CCTVs installed in the house helped the son and daughter-in-law to know all the truth. In the absence of the camera, it could’ve created an altogether different situation.
Today caregiving is one of the most unorganised service sectors. If they are not organized soon, the troubles of both—the elderly and caregivers—can increase further. Society and the government need to help these working-class caregivers with skills, training, and resources to repay the contributions of the senior citizens.
The time bank system persuaded the younger generation in certain European countries like the United Kingdom and Switzerland. Investment of time with a guarantee to get it back when he or she needs is a fascinating idea to import and improve. Asian countries like Singapore are trying to introduce similar time banks. Last year the government of Rajasthan introduced reforms in the law related to the care of elderly people. However, while NHRC advised the government to initiate such a noble project, nothing happened in the last five years.
Undoubtedly the technology has rendered solutions to some problems, and its utility in senior care setups across the globe is unchallenged. But still, the repercussions of the technology and its limitations are the least discussed subjects since its proponents have been trying hard to conceal the negative effects of their products. Here we need to consider its limitations and impact on the surroundings.
*Author of The Holy Ganga (Rupa 2008) and Honourary Secretary, Srishti Sustainable Development Foundation. The published article is is an edited excerpt from his speech the release of Dr. Onkar Mittal’s book, Care of the Aged, in New Delhi recently.
