Why Bengaluru is so rude to greying population?
- Elders' helpline is flooded with complaints of physical and mental torture
- The helpline has now been upgraded to 24 hours; senior citizens cal Namma 100 too
- The elders' helpline was initiated in Bengaluru in 2002 for the first time in the country
FollowWhat was once a pensioners' paradise, Namma Bengaluru is slowly turning out to be "unliveable place" for senior citizens. For, majority of the senior citizens in the city feel harassed, tortured and left out by their own children and other family members.
Take the statistics of the complaints received at the Elders' helpline that clearly establishes the fact. Set up for the first time in the country, in 2002, 30 per cent of the complaints received at helpline are related to harassment by children.
Also, reasons vary from property division, lack of understanding between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law, cheque bounce and cheating that form the complaints, reports Kannada Prabha. Bengaluru has nearly 10 lakh senior citizens of which three lakh suffer from severe mental and physical torture. It is not just children or family members but even the spouses turn out to be hostile over the years, it is said. Of late, there have been complaints that even girls (in case of unmarried or single child) do not take care of their aged parents. Such a trend seems to be upsetting.
The elders' helpline initiated with the help of Nigtingales Medical Trust is located at the police commissioner's office. Following demand, it was upgraded for 24 hours from April, this year. The helpline receives more than 60 to 70 distress calls across the city of which 15 calls pertain to exploitation.
The helpline that is available at 24 hours is 1090 (toll free) and 080 - 22943226. Or one can also log into www.nightingaleseldercare.com. Bengalureans can also dial the Namma 100 too.
In the last 15 years, the helpline has received over 1.60 lakh calls among them 8,662 calls were of serious nature. It is said that most of these "serious calls" needed consultation from psychiatrics, advocates, social workers and also the police department. At least 52 per cent of the senior citizens have been given such consultation. From January 2016 to March 2017, as many as 464 cases have been registered and 274 cases have been resolved.
Undoubtedly, it is the collapse of culture and family values that can be attributed to this situation. Besides, with majority of them are working there is hardly any interaction between the parents and children. Also, parents are needed just look after the grandchildren depriving the life of their own.
