Fast changing socio-economic conditions leading to disintegration of jt. family system : Naidu

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu on November 29, 2018, said that India traditionally enjoyed a robust joint family system and the fast changing socio-economic conditions were leading to its disintegration. He was addressing a gathering at the 18th National Conference of Senior Citizens organized by the All India Senior Citizens Confederation (AISCCON) at Hyderabad. The Vice President said that there was an inherent social security in our joint family system as it took great care of the elderly.

Naidu said that with the emergence of nuclear families, the elderly were increasingly getting neglected and their dignity was also adversely affected. Whenever the family system fails in its duty to protect the elderly, the community, civil society and the government have to step in to fill the vacuum, he added. He also expressed his concern over the instances of children abandoning their parents and said the neglect and abuse of the elderly was “abhorrent and completely unacceptable”.

Naidu said that in spite of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior citizens Act 2007, the number of cases of children abandoning their elderly parents was on the rise. Apart from abandonment, the elderly also face neglect, abuse, physical, verbal and emotional and other forms of violence, he added.

The Vice President said that at present there were an estimated 10.5 crore elderly in India and by 2050 the figure would reach 32.4 crore. Worldwide, by 2050 every fifth person will be an elder person and there will be 64 countries including India where 30% of the population will be 60 plus, he added. Pointing out that more than 70% of our elders reside in rural areas, the Vice President said the rise in rural population of senior citizens was due to large scale migration of younger generation to urban areas. The elderly in rural areas were facing deprivation, discrimination, dispossession, loneliness and abuse, he added.

Naidu said that out of the total population of the elders, 70% – that is around eight crore people – are below the poverty line. He said that the pension they receive from the government was inadequate. Even though the situation has improved with the recent Direct Benefit Transfer, we still have a long way to go, he added, according to a PIB release.

The Vice President said that social security should be made mandatory once the Indian economy improves. “I am more in favour of social security than giving freebies,” he added.

Asserting that it was of paramount importance to provide the much-needed physical, financial and social security and dignity to our elderly, the Vice President said the National Policy on Older Persons must be implemented by all State Governments in letter and spirit.