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PURPOSE, DIGNITY AND PEACE: WHAT DO WE HAVE FOR ELDERS IN SOCIETY? By John Eric Gomes [EMAIL PROTECTED] Porvorim Goa (Tel 2412578) The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has a National Policy which promises to help the elders in society live the last phase of their lives with purpose, dignity and peace. The previous government had formed a National Council for Older Persons (NCOP) in 1999, to implement the National Policy. This Council has met only twice in the last six years. Suffice it to say, most people on this Council, the conference felt, are unsuited for the job. The National Policy visualises the following: (i) functional security (ii) health-care and nutrition (iii) shelter (iv) education and training (v) appropriate senior citizen concessions, rebates and discounts (vi) strengthening legal rights of the elderly to safeguard life and property (vii) financial assistance for the destitute and also old age homes, day care centers, and mobile medicare units. There is also an Annapurna Scheme of free food-grains. The Ministry of Finance has specific concessions like exempting senior citizens (here its for those over 65 years), from the one-by-six scheme for filing Income Tax, rebate of Rs 15,000 or actual tax whichever is less, another Rs 15,000 medical insurance, higher bank interest rates, and special senior citizens savings schemes with LIC and the Post Office. In addition, the Ministries of Railways, Civil Aviation, Road Transport, Telecommunications are also noticing senior citizens, in line with the national policy. The Chief Justice of India has advised the chief justices of all high courts in the country to accord priority in cases involving older persons. But, as per the wider malady of our country, the usual lofty ideals are marred in actual implementation by rules and laws, and the hypocritical or lackadaisical attitude during implementation. Goa recently hosted a two-day conference of The National Coordination Committee of Associations of Senior Citizens of India (NACCASCI), and with the opening of a premises as office in Margao, is pitch-forked onto the national scene. Since I was an invitee to the conference, I could informally talk to the delegates who came from all over India. The plight of the majority (except for only about 10% of the 77 million of our elderly, out of these 5% who are even looking after others) is indeed dismal. It was possible for the writer to caution the chairman that we need positive thinking to face the challenges of aging and not a list of woes and demands for concessions and freebies, like is being done by the freedom fighters after 57 years of Independence, much to the disgust of the public! The demographic profile of senior citizens the world over is fast changing, in as much as people who live longer are not in ill health or invalid, and in fact can be quite productive. A few examples were given. * Lord Roll of the House of Lords is the author of the classic History of Economic Thought, and is an active, lively inquisitive 96 years old. * Who has not heard of Alan Greenspan, now 78 years old, guiding and directing economic policies of USA, the world's most powerful economy for the last about 18 years. * In India we have 105 years old Dr Chandiramani of Mumbai, who in July 2004 was felicitated by the Maharashtra government as the oldest working general practitioner in The Bombay Hospital. * When C.K.Mathews retired from Atomic Research Center Kalpakkam, he mortgaged his house to become an entrepreneur and started a new business with just one helper. Now, at 69 years, he walks briskly, has 25 employees and has created a Rs 50 million business. At the Margao conference, 87-years-old Laura Dias from Vasco, got up from her wheel chair, mounted the steps to the dais, addressed the audience with gusto and ended singing, "You Will Never Grow Old". These few examples should inspire those who feel life ends at 65! Although in percentage terms, India has a senior citizens population of only 7.7%, that is almost close to the entire population of Germany! Incidentally while listening to World Radio Network, it was interesting to hear that today the senior citizens in Germany are those with the most money to spare. The young are busy working and saving, so advertising agencies are targeting the senior group with older models. A model providing agency was complaining that 60 year old models get sent back because they look too young! My cousin in Canada tells me everyone above 65 years regardless, gets $5000 per year from the federal government, and those below the poverty line another $5000. In the UK, a survey showed that there is a new generation which can be called the SWELL generation -- sixty, well-off, enjoying later life! Their only fear is ill-health and so they lead an active and balanced diet life with good habits and no dependence either on their children, relatives or the State. Madhya Pradesh seems to be a very forward looking State. They were the first to propound and implement The Sound Pollution Act. Now I understand they have a Bill, spelling out the whole gamut of relationships: family, progeny, single parents, bachelors and spinsters, duties of State towards senior citizens, duties of children towards their parents/senior citizens, education, etc. Perhaps a code of conduct will emerge. We in India have a glorious tradition of treating the elderly with reverence and respect. Touching elders feet in greetings, looking after them, seeking their blessings before important events -- which is a far cry from the present day TV culture, work-related migration, ignoring and even taunting the elderly, nuclear families as against joint families. Life today is certainly more stressful and fast compared to yesteryears. Rough estimates suggest 10% of our senior citizens are drawing a pension, 24% live out of income generated by their life's savings, and 66% are either near or below the poverty line. We in India have no social security for every citizen. The Government needs to look into this profile of the elderly very seriously. Today's young will be tomorrows senior citizens. One of the key factors in a nations strength and humanity is the way it tackles the demographic patterns emerging with a clear vision. THE WRITER is a senior-citizen, who has served both in the Navy and merchant navy, and leads an active life in the Sainik Stores cooperative venture at Porvorim. He often writes for the local media in Goa. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays, reviews, features and think-pieces. 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