JOIN USThe government has failed to prioritise the concerns of senior citizens in the country, said Zilla Panchayat President Pushpa Amarnath, here, on Monday.
“While governments have implemented several programmes for children and youth, senior citizens have been largely ignored,” she said.
She was speaking at an health awareness workshop for senior citizens, organised by Prajapitha Brahmakumari Eshwariya Vidyalaya, at Jaganmohan Palace, in the city.
She said, the woes of senior citizens has compounded as the number of nuclear families have increased. While the joint family system ensured respect and protection of senior citizens, nuclear families have left senior citizens in a poor state, especially in urban areas, she said.
Depression
Many parents do not allow children to interact with their grandparents. This has led to depression among several senior citizens.
The mindset of modern societies regarding the elderly should change, she said.Resource person Dr Mahesh Hemadri said, countries like Mauritius provide large sums as pension to senior citizens. Even though pension schemes exist in India, the benefits either do not reach the target population or the benefits are very meagre, he said.
With the escalation in medical costs, the government should consider increasing the amount of pension for senior citizens, he said.