Rising Elder Abuse in India Calls for Immediate Action

As the country celebrated Holi last week, I spent the long weekend rather perturbed and disturbed. Amid the cleverly engineered and unmissable divisive rhetoric on news media to trigger communal frictions this Holi, another phenomenon (that no one seemed to be talking about) caught my attention. In just one week, I found three serious instances of elder abuse surface in the news. In one case, two sons in Uttar Pradesh colluded to get their father jailed in order to prevent him from donating land to the local gurdwara. The 103-year-old father ended up spending 19 months behind bars simply because his sons opposed his wish to gift some land to the gurdwara. Sadly, during his long incarceration, nobody from the family even visited the old man.In another case, a daughter-in-law in Karnataka was caught on tape thrashing her elderly in-laws.While the mother-in-law is reportedly a cancer survivor, the father-in-law is a heart patient. Both were often harassed by the daughter-in-law, who is a senior doctor at a government hospital in Bengaluru. In the same week, another shocker came from Madhya Pradesh, where two daughters brutalised their father with sticks. The chilling video of this assault in Morena district went viral just days after the man died under mysterious circumstances in early March. Based on the family’s testimony, the police initially treated it as a suicide case, but after the video surfaced, they began investigating whether the father died by suicide or was murdered by the daughters, who were allegedly angry over his drug addiction.This spate of horrific incidents is not new but a reminder of the often ignored issue of abuse of senior citizens in India. Transforming Twilight Years: Serenity For Elders and OffspringThough respect for elders was historically a seen as a core normative value in Indian society, the erosion of traditional family systems, the stresses of modern life, digitisation, and changing interpersonal sociopolitics may be causing a shift in perspectives.Sociologists argue that the rapid urbanisation of India and the breakdown of the joint family system, where several generations lived under one roof, has created a sense of isolation and vulnerability for the elderly. With nuclear families now the norm, the emotional, financial, and practical support that was once readily available for the elderly has dwindled sharply.Economic pressures and shifting cultural values exacerbate this crisis. In a fiercely competitive economy, most youngsters struggle to make ends meet due to rising costs and migration to unfamiliar environs for jobs. Edler abuse is also interlinked with substance abuse and mental health issues among family members, and the earnings of individual households.Age-related illnesses put great economic and psychological strain on families. In a home where youngsters (or so called 'earning-members') are struggling to feed the family, the increased longevity of parents may come as a burden. Some argue that the pursuit of personal gains and materialistic goals leads to an inevitable erosion of filial piety and the responsibilities of taking care of parents. But it isn't just simple sociological and philosophical shift. Nothing ever is. Experts believe a lack of awareness about rights of elders and limited availability of support services worsen the problem. Recent studies indicate the gravity of elder abuse in India.A survey conducted by HelpAge India in 2018 revealed that nearly 25 percent of elderly respondents admitted that family members were the main perpetrators of abuse.The report also revealed that about 20 percent of seniors faced verbal abuse and emotional neglect from family members. Nearly 10 percent were subjected to physical violence by relatives. Statistics showed that over 50 percent of seniors who were abused also suffered financial exploitation, including coercion to relinquish their property or savings.The disturbing data also revealed gender disparities, whereby women—who often outlive their husbands and live with their children—were found more vulnerable to ill-treatment. Accordingly, 31 percent of elderly women reported experiencing abuse, compared to 24 percent of elderly men, underlining the greater vulnerability of elderly women, who face both ageism and sexism within their families.Significantly, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data shows a 10 percent increase in higher such cases from 2016 to 2020. The most alarming aspect is that nearly 50 percent of the reported abuse was committed by sons, 25 percent by daughters-in-law, and 15 percent by daughters.1 Every 9 Minutes: NCRB Data Bares India's Female Suicide ProblemThe mental trauma on the elderly by the betrayal of their kin is unimaginable. A recent study by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) reveals that there is a 300 percent higher chance of abused elderly citizens dying prematurely compared to those not subjected to abuse.Despite these alarming statistics, under-reporting of such crimes and stigma remain critical issues. As most perpetrators of elder abuse are the victims' children, many elders never reveal their plight due to fear, shame, or lack of available support. An Agewell Foundation survey of June 2023 notes that only 10 percent of elder abuse cases are reported to authorities, as most seniors stay silent due to fear of retribution, loss of family support, social stigma, and ignorance about legal rights and support services.'You Are 82, Will You Ever Stop?': The Bogey of 'Ageism' in Indian PoliticsThe Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act of 2007 was a major step in the direction of elder care but its enforcement remains lax. Lack of awareness among senior citizens is a huge obstacle to the effective implementation of the Act.A study reveals that even a decade after its enactment, only 12 percent of the elderly were aware of the Act.This ignorance prevents most seniors, specially those in rural areas or with limited education, from seeking the protection they are entitled to.Significantly, while some states have set up the essential infrastructure, like Maintenance Tribunals and old age homes, many lag behind due to resource crunch and lack of political will.While the Act mandates establishing Maintenance Tribunals at the sub-divisional level, on the ground, many tribunals are understaffed, lack basic infrastructure and remain largely non-functional. Also, the cumbersome judicial process and the lack of dedicated police units and trained personnel for handling elder abuse cases hamper the Act’s implementation.To remove these lacunae, the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha in December, 2019. But though the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment submitted its report by January 2021, five years after its introduction, the Bill is yet to become an Act. Such lapses are stark reminders of the lack of political will for improving living situations of the elderlyDelhi Tops Crimes Against Elderly: 'Always On Alert,' Say Senior CitizensWhile reveling in the fact that it has the largest young population in the world, India must remember that the number of elderly is also immense. India's elderly population is projected to reach and estimated 347 million by 2050. That is cause for concern as the elderly would make up nearly 20.8 percent of the population, surpassing the number of children aged 0-14. The grim statistics demand immediate and comprehensive action through a robust legal framework.Establishing dedicated units within police departments to handle complaints of abuse of adults, and imposing harsher penalties on perpetrators could serve as deterrents. In addition to legal initiatives and awareness efforts, experts say the government and civil society must collaborate to:Provide accessible and effective support systems, including helplines and counsellingPromote intergenerational understanding and respect through educational programmesEncourage the development of senior-friendly housing and community centresIronically, the increasing incidents of elderly abuse by close relatives is happening in an era when there’s constant chatter about sanskars and sanatani culture. For centuries, Indian ethos emphasised serving elders as not just an obligation but as a source of blessings. Proverbs like "Matrudevo bhava, pitrudevo bhava, acharyadevo bhava," religious texts, and folklore all reinforce the sanctity of filial bonds. Modern age glorifcation of 'fast living' and hustle culture has led to a more individualised way of looking at life, which is shaping India's traditionally communal system.In a tech-finance-driven time when one's worth is measured by one's ability to earn, it is essential for the country (where many senior citizens remain tech-illiterate) to create institutions that not only ensure the safety and right to life of the elderly but also their dignity and self-worth via employment, rehabilitation and long-term care.Addressing the issue requires not just legal and social interventions but also a collective will to place the well-being and dignity of elders at the forefront. After all, age does not mean erasure. (The author is a veteran journalist and expert on Rajasthan politics. Besides serving as a Resident Editor at NDTV, he has been a Professor of Journalism at the University of Rajasthan in Jaipur. He tweets at @rajanmahan. This is an opinion article and the views expressed are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for them.)

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Not Just a Family Affair: India’s Silent Elder Abuse Epidemic

Age does not mean erasure. Addressing elder abuse would require considering seniors as people who deserve dignity.

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Topics: Holi Uttar Pradesh KARNATAKA