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Odisha
Bhubaneswar: Property and inheritance related issues dominate the reasons behind abuse of elderly people, revealed a nation-wide survey. On the occasion of ‘World Elderly Abuse Awareness Day’ today, HelpAge India published its survey report on elderly abuse across the country.
Deliberating on the report, organisation’s State head Bharati Chakra said, “We carried out survey on the young generation in 10 major cities of the country. The revelations are shocking. 53.2% cases of elderly abuse are due to property related issues.
Not only that, 50.2% of the complaints of abuse are against daughter-in-laws whereas the survey shows that 28% sons are responsible for it.
Chakra explained that a survey on the younger generation was very much important as in most of the cases, the perpetrator is the son or the daughter-in-law of the victims. The survey was conducted among the age bracket of 25-45 years.
According to the study, instances of elder abuse is as high as 32.5% among relatives, followed by 21% friends and 20% neighbours. In another shocking revelation, 92% respondents in Delhi said they are not willing to intervene to prevent such abuse, followed by Chennai with 64% and Hyderabad with 45%.
Both physical and mental abuses are rampant in our society, states the survey. Not only that, the study shows that negligence is another form of abuse which is very much common in the society. Financial dependence on others is a crucial cause behind abuse.
The survey report was published in a programme organized in Red Cross Bhawan here. Actress Anu Chowdhury, Odisha Senior Citizen Federation (OSCF) president Krupasindhu Sahoo and its secretary Jugal Kishore Sahoo were present in the programme.
Chowdhury said, “We should treat elderly people with more sensitivity and compassion. Let’s not forget how much our parents or grandparents have sacrificed for us. And if we cannot treat them well, then it is a matter of shame for us.”
Sharing his experience, Jugal Kishore Sahoo said in most of the cases, parents do not want to register complaint against their son or daughter-in-law responsible for their abuse. “I would request everyone to come forward and register police complaints whenever you come across such cases so that it can be stopped,” he said.
“At the same time, if the victims register complaints, the percentage of abuse would really come down and the issue could be addressed successfully,” he added.
In his address, Krupasindhu Sahoo emphasised that awareness campaigns on the issue should be carried out throughout the year and across every corner of the society. He also suggested that school students should be sensitized on the issue too.
