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CHAPTER NO 1- INTRODUCTION
1.1 INTRODUCTION
The phenomenal medical triumph has brought about an unprecedented increase in life
expectancy of people in the country. The percentage of 60 plus population in India is on
the rise providing a challenge for their well-being and security. The historical-cultural
tradition of care and respect for the elderly is on the decline due to change in life style and
globalization.
In recent time, there has been a spurt in crime against older citizens as they become an
easy target of criminals. The rich senior citizens are more prone to security risks, since
they are vulnerable to exploitation, pressure and physical threats for property and
financial gain from their children/ relatives/unsocial elements. Database of elderly people
is very poor.
The study has been carried out in the four zones of Greater Mumbai because they
collectively represent different geographical, economic and cultural settings of Greater
Mumbai.
Crimes and abuse of senior citizens has become largely an urban menace. Well- to-do
senior citizens residing in the pos colonies of the Metros have become the victims more
frequently. There are multiple factors responsible for rising crimes against the ageing
population. As they advance in years, loneliness sets in, dependence increases, health
deteriorates, and they tend to rely heavily on domestic help who have largely proved
unreliable. The security of elderly people has acquired a new dimension as they are faced
with social, psychological, economic and safety challenges.


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A multi - pronged strategy for strengthening the traditional care system and evolving
appropriate framework for old age security services have been adopted by the
Government of India to ensure socio-economic and emotional support to the ageing
population. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment acts as the nodal agency
with regard to ageing issues. It provides basic policy guidance, the roadmap for
implementation of the same and also coordinates with stakeholders such as the other
Ministries of the Central Government and the State Government, NGOs, Civil Society
Institutions etc.

1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
To collect information on the reasons for the separate and lonely life of the aged
citizens.
To study and analyse the growing security threats to the elderly citizens.
To study the role of voluntary and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and
of the police in ensuring safety of the senior citizens.

1.3 HYPOTHESIS
Greater Mumbai is a safe place with security guards in the building
Greater Mumbai is not a safe place with security guards in the building
Police has played an important role in providing a security system to senior
citizens
Police has not played an important role in providing a security system to senior
citizens
*extra( There is no uniform pattern of crime against senior citizens.
The complaints lodged by the senior citizens are not registered and investigated
speedily by the police.)

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1.4 NEED OF THE STUDY
To understand the rise in crime on senior citizens in Greater Mumbai and the effective
measures or steps taken to eradicate them.

1.5 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The data will be collected from primary sources by providing a questionnaire to 30
respondents; data will be processed through percentage method
Sample size will be only 30
Data is also collected from secondary sources and has been taken from different websites,
newspapers and reference books.

1.6 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
Sample Size would be only of 30 respondents which would not represent the population
of senior citizens as a whole and Time Factor which could be a major constraint.

1.7 CHAPTER SCHEME
This Project consists of the following chapters:
Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Review of Literature
Chapter 3 Secondary Data
Chapter 4 Questionnaire




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CHAPTER NO 2- REVIEW OF LITERATURE

2.1 M.L.Nararsaiah in the book named NGOs and Human Rights (2006) opined that,
the role of NGOs should be to foster the emergence of a worldwide civil society. NGOs
were not born yesterday, but the rising number of conflicts that have reverberated in
recent decades led them to multiply and diversify into highly visible bodies. The NGOs
closeness to grassroots organisations in the South, their emphasis on help for self-help
and their independence from the North, allows them to orient their activities on the basic
needs of the people in the developing countries. This enables NGOs to make a credible
and effective contribution to Social change.

2.2 P.B.Das in the book titled HUMAN RIGHTS in India (2012) emphasized that, the
concept of a wide range of human rights from personal to social and political rights.
Several international treaties, conventions and constitutional and legal measures
recognize the Human Rights. Right to education, health, life, privacy, fair trial, right
against abuse, right to information etc, form a wide spectrum of human rights that need to
be zealously protected.

2.3 Muzafer Assadi in the book titled Human Rights and Social Justice (2011)
highlighted that Social security has evolved out of mankinds quest for protection from
nature and arising out of life and work in modern societies, they were totally dependent
on wages for subsistence. In due course, a comprehensive social security system was
developed covering all eventualities from conception and birth till death like pre-natal &
maternity benefits, paid leave, medical care, family allowances and old age pensions.
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2.4 Ram Ahuja in the book named Social Problems in India (1997) found that in India,
in an hour about 187 cognizable crimes under the IPC and 433 crimes under the local and
special laws are committed. In one day, the police grapples with 832 thefts, 258 riots, 66
robberies, 333 burglaries and 2991 other criminal offences. The rising waves of crime
might cause alarm among the public but our police and politicians remain unruffled about
the deteriorating law & order situations.

2.5 Neera Bharihoke in the book entitled HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE LAW (2009)
found that the desire to mention of Human Rights brings to a persons manifestation its
facets, their meaning, concepts, contents etc. The related issues and notions also bring to
spotlight the beneficiaries of human rights, protection of their rights, their rehabilitation
etc. Refugees, migrants, disabled people, displaced people; retired people are the classes
or groups who are more susceptible to human rights violation. Their problems and
grievances can be addressed and vindicated by strengthening of local, social as well as
economic infrastructure and to build the same wherever these are lacking.

References:
1. Ahuja Ram, 1997, Social Problems in India, Rawat Publication, Jaipur
2. Assadi Muzafer, 2011, Human Rights & Social Justice, Serials Publication, New
Delhi
3. Bharihoke Neera, 2009, Human Rights and The Law, Serials Publication, New
Delhi
4. Das P.B., 2012, Human Rights in India, Sagar Publishers, Jaipur
5. Nararsaiah M.L., 2006, NGOs and Human Rights, Discovery Publishing House,
New Delhi
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CHAPTER NO 3- A STUDY INTO THE CRIME SCENARIO IN
GREATER MUMBAI ON SENIOR CITIZENS

INTRODUCTION
In India, while children pursue education and other career building activities and adults
and middle aged engage themselves in earning livelihood, the elderly lead a retired life. In
the same household three generations, namely, children, parents and grandparents reside
side by side harmoniously. The elderly get care, support and comfort from their children
and grandchildren. With the advent of modernity and globalisation and the accompanying
phenomena such as industrialization, urbanization and migration the conventional living
style has been undermined. Number of nuclear families is increasing and more and more
elderly are now living alone. This trend is gaining momentum with increase in life
expectancy. The percept of regarding maintenance of elderly as a pious obligation is also
wearing off. Because of these changes, elderly are feeling isolated and they are facing
numerous other privations. They have become easy targets of criminals and elder abuse
has become a social menace.

DEFINING GREATER MUMBAI
The Greater Mumbai Metropolitan Region includes the cities of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai,
Thane, Bhiwandi and Kalyan. It starts from Fort and ends at Kalyan. Greater Mumbai is
divided into 6 zones and each zone is further divided into many wards for convenience
and smooth functioning.




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ELDERLY DEFINED
Ageing is a natural process. However, it is very difficult to define term elderly or aged. A
15-year old boy considers a 30-year old man aged. The latter treats a 50-year old man
aged. There are people who consider themselves old at the age of 40 years. At the same
time, there is no dearth of people who regard themselves young at the age of 75 years.
The old age is the last phase of human life cycle associated with declining faculties and
low social worth.
Different countries have laid down different age limits for retirement from their main
workforces. In western societies, persons aged 65 years or above are normally considered
elderly. In India, the age of retirement varies from 55 to 65 years, depending upon
profession and the nature of the institution providing employment. Bulk of government
servants in India retire from service on becoming 60 years old.
In India persons aged 60 or more years are considered elderly or senior citizens. The
Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 enacted by the
Government of India defines a senior citizen as a person who has attained the age of sixty
years or above. Nevertheless, under the law relating to income tax in India, persons are
regarded senior citizens only after they become 65 years old. The United Nations
Organization also treats persons aged 60 years or more as elderly. Those who are between
60and 74 years old are referred to as younger-old and those whose age is 75 years or
more are referred to as older-old. A recent study in the USA has revealed that old age
starts at the age of 27 years as peoples mental abilities begin to decline from the age of
27 after reaching a peak at 22. As for as this study is concerned, a person having attained
the age of 60 or more years is an elderly or aged person or a senior citizen.


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ELDERLY POPULATION
With declining fertility, coupled with increase in life expectancy, the number of older
persons in population of India is expected to increase more than double from 71 million
in 2001 to 173 million by 2026. Normally, males out-number females in total population.
But among population of elderly, the reverse is true. Population of metros is large. They
have huge floating population. A large fraction of their population resides in ramshackle
housing (slums) that surrounds high-rise prosperous clusters. These factors promote
violence and crime.

DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF ELDERLY POPULATION IN INDIA
India is a vast country. Its area is 3,287,590 square km. It covers 2.4 per cent of earths
surface. In terms of population, its size is far more staggering. In 1947, when India
became independent, its population was 350 million. According to 2001 census,
population of India is 1.02 billion, which is whopping 16.7 per cent of population of this
planet. Growing at the annual rate of 1.2 percent, population of India by 2026 is expected
to increase to 1.4 billion. In other words, the population in India between 2001 and 2026
is likely to increase by 36 per cent.
In India, the fertility rate was very high. It has gradually declined. The proportion of
population in age groups of 0-14 years has come down in response to sustained reduction
infertility level. Between 2001 and 2026, due to declining fertility, the proportion of
population aged less than 15 years is projected to decline from 35.4 to 23.4 per cent.
Mortality rate in India has also dropped steadily. The life expectancy was around 29years
in1947. It is now around 65 years. It is expected to increase to around 71 years by 2026.
Larger coverage of health care services, better health consciousness, improved nutrition,
greater sanitation and advancements in health technology have contributed to longer life
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span in India. The proportion of 60+ persons in the population of India in 2001, according
to the office of the Registrar General of India, was 7.4 per cent.
The population in the age group of 25-59 is likely to grow substantially. The growth in
the population of elderly will be sharper. The share of 80+ populations is likely to grow
even faster. With the declining fertility, coupled with the increase in life expectancy, the
number of older persons in the population of India is expected to increase by more than
double from 76.62 million in 2001 to 173million in 2026.3 While it took France 115
years to increase the percentage of its elderly population from 7 to 14, such demographic
transition now has become a matter of few decades.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ELDERLY AND THEIR VULNERABILITY TO CRIME
AND ABUSE

SENESCENCE AND FUNCTIONAL DISABILITIES
Ageing leads to fragility, senescence and functional dependence on others.
Senescence is non-disease based biological process of growing old, resulting in poor
reflexes, sensory (vision and hearing) deterioration, loss of skeletal muscle causing
frailty, poor endurance, functional disability, increased vulnerability to stress, greater
susceptibility to diseases and possibility of dying. Senescence is associated with the
period in a persons life when physiological degenerative processes overtake regenerative
processes. These changes are accelerated in the presence of diseases. As a very large
majority of the aged suffers from curtailed functional abilities in physical matters such as
eating, bathing, dressing, walking etc., they need assistance of able-bodied companions in
day-to-day living. For this purpose, most of the affluent senior citizens hire domestic
help. The others in this regard depend on the members of their families. Many senior
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citizens regularly become victims of the crimes and elder abuse committed by their
domestic help, members of their families and their other caregivers.
Senescence, functional disabilities, financial insecurity and sickness characterize
population of older persons. These characteristics make elderly highly susceptible to
crime and elder abuse and render their plight miserable. Out of 81 million elderly in
India, 51 million are poor. In metros, 60 per cent suffer from one or more diseases. 87
percent of them have no health insurance. Medicines and food often compete in spending
of elderly. Fear of crime haunts elderly who are rich. The gravest fears of most elderly are
health problems followed by shortage of money. Physical insecurity (insecurity due to
crime) is not as pronounced as economic and health insecurities. Elderly are a highly
diverse group. They reside interspersed. These factors make service delivery including
provision of security to them a challenge.

FINANCIAL INSECURITY
Ageing results in reduction of income. In a very large number of cases it leads to total
loss of earning. Barring superannuated government servants and retired employees of
public sector, the aged are not covered by any social security scheme. In many cases
ageing makes people destitute. Out of 81 million elderly in India, 51 million are poor.
State provides subsidies including pension to the indigent elderly. The National Old Age
Pension Scheme was launched for destitute persons aged 65 years or more to provide
them monthly pension to which Rs. 200 per head per month is contributed by Central
Government. The number of beneficiaries of the scheme has touched 1.57crore. The
scheme benefits elderly little as many States including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, J&K,
Orissa, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya and Nagaland contribute nothing
towards it. Goa and Delhi pay Rs. 800 per month, the highest in the country.
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Big and small non-government charities are also active in providing succor to poor and
destitute elderly. But this assistance is far from adequate. At present the State in India
does not have resources to spare any significant amount of money to provide a
meaningful social security network to marginalized people.
The arrangements for income security for non-destitute elderly are conspicuous by their
total absence from the country. Most of these elderly (over two-thirds) are highly
vulnerable. They do not have any own source of income to fall back upon. They are
entirely dependent upon their families for their survival. Women are more vulnerable in
this regard. This dependence makes them unwanted and highly vulnerable to the menace
of elder abuse and even crimes such as assaults and abandonment.

MOBILITY RISK
Because of senescence and sickness, mobility of most of the elderly gets restricted. In
public transport seats are earmarked for senior citizens. The elderly are also helped by
other pedestrians as well as by police in crossing roads and streets having heavy and fast
moving traffic. Nevertheless, existing public transport system and road engineering have
failed to meet the needs of the elderly as is evident from the fact that around ten per cent
of total road accidental deaths are of persons of and above the age of 60 years. As people
grow old they give up driving. They either resort to public transport, or walk. This
compulsion highlights the need of safe and short paths for pedestrian and safe as well as
affordable and convenient public transport system. Mobility risk to senior citizens hardly
finds a space in the protection schemes undertaken by police and thinking of road
engineers. The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 should provide for wearing of some specific
colour headgear and tying of some coloured florescent band by senior citizens when they
move out of their homes for identification, and for stern penalties for motorists/
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scooterists and other vehicle borne road users who cause damage to identifiable
pedestrian senior citizens on highways and streets. Road engineers should also bear in
mind the requirements of elderly pedestrians while designing and executing road projects.
These are long-term measures. Their implementation will take time.

FEARS OF ELDERLY
Elderly Living Alone are Soft Targets for Criminals
The senior citizens who are staying alone present soft targets for criminals to rob and
even to murder. This is more so in megacities for social cohesiveness of smaller urban
areas is missing in these cities. The interpersonal relations in these cities are marked by
impersonality and disinterest in the neighbourhood, due to fast pace of life in these cities.

Elderly Living Alone are at Medical Risk
Elderly living alone are, in many cases, unable to seek medical assistance when they need
it the most. At times, this handicap results in fatal consequences. On 27 June 2009, police
recovered the body of 70-year-old Yashoda Krishnamurthy from her rented house in East
of Kalyan. She was living alone and reportedly died due to a cardiac arrest. On 29 June
2009, police found a highly decomposed body of Angela Machado (74) from her Mahim
house. The body was on the bed with the television still on. She was reportedly suffering
from a chronic lung disease and had died following an attack. In these incidents even the
next-door neighbours had not found anything amiss until the foul smell emanating from
decomposed bodies alerted the neighbours and became a clue for these recoveries.



13

Elderly Living Alone Are Prone To Depression
Fear of crime haunts elderly who are rich. They are more prone to security risks, since
they are vulnerable to exploitation, pressure and physical threats for property and
financial gain from their children/ relatives/ unsocial elements.
Many elderly living alone suffer from acute depression. On 26 June 2009, police
recovered the charred dead body of 72year old Savita Gosh from her third floor flat at
Colaba. Loneliness and old age had forced her to end her life. Police said, After her
husband died a year ago, she was under acute depression.
Police too are concerned over the rising number of elderly who are forced to stay alone,
and blame this trend on break down of family traditions.

BASIC NEEDS OF THE OLDER POPULATION
The basic needs of the older population, which have to be addressed, have been aptly
summarized in the UN Principles on Ageing. They are:
Independence / freedom from wants
This involves provision of income, housing, health, water, sanitation, communications,
privacy, security and physical mobility to aged population.
Participation, Social and Civic Needs
This involves integration of elderly in society and family, providing of opportunity to
them to serve the society and catering for their recreation, education, etc.
Care
This involves provision of access to elderly to community care, health care and
institutional, social and legal services.


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Self-fulfillment
This involves provision of facilities to elderly to pursue development of their potential in
educational, cultural, economic, spiritual, political and other spheres.
Dignity
This involves ensuring respect and equality regardless of age, gender, caste or creed and
freedom from physical, financial and mental dependence.
Security
This involves enabling elderly to lead a secure and fearless life.


ELDER ABUSE
Definition and Incidence of Elder Abuse
The subject matter of elder abuse has gained public attention only recently. Elder abuse,
like child abuse, is a social menace. Elder abuse is mis-treatment or mal-treatment of aged
persons. Many acts that amount to elder abuse are also penal offences. Crime against
elderly includes some, but not all, forms of elder abuse.39 While crime against elderly
causes sensation and attracts attention of both print and visual media, the acts of elder
abuse that are not tantamount to crime go unnoticed and unreported.
According to Osborn, crime is an act or default, which tends to the prejudice of the
community and is forbidden by law on pain of punishment, inflicted at the suit of the
State. In other words, there is nothing, which by itself is a crime. Only such acts or
omissions are crimes, which are made punishable by the legislature. For example, the
consumption and sale of liquor are offences in Gujarat, but not in adjoining Rajasthan. It
does not follow that an actor omission, which is not legally punishable, is morally
acceptable. The rich man who refuses a morsel to save a fellow creature is far worse than
15

a starving wretch who snatches and devours a loaf from a bakery. Yet the law punishes
the later for theft and not the former for cruelty. As such, the acts or omission of elder
abuse as are not crimes are socially as reprehensible as crimes.
There is an extreme paucity of data about elder abuse. On the basis of perception, it is
concluded that the evil is rampant. It has become a worldwide phenomenon. In crowded
urban areas, like the metros, its incidence is very high. According to rough estimate,
nearly 40 per cent of senior citizens living with their families are reportedly facing abuse
of one kind or another. Hardly, only one in six cases actually comes to light. Abuse of
elderly has been found in all the metros covered by this study. While crime generally
affects wealthy amongst elderly, a large segment of population of elderly is victim of
elder abuse.
Elder abuse makes the life of aged persons unbearably humiliating. Abuse of aged is
essentially because they are considered redundant According to Monika Singh, A vast
majority of 81 million senior citizen in India battles failing health, financial constrains,
loneliness, emotional stress and abuse in the dusk of their lives, leading many to end their
lives in depression or to lead pitiable existence.

CATEGORIES OF ELDER ABUSE
Elder abuse is of the following categories:
PHYSICAL ABUSE
This category includes acts that cause pain, injury or discomfort to an aged person.
Violence done to an aged person is physical abuse. Slapping an elderly is an example of
this kind of abuse.


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SEXUAL ABUSE
It is non-consensual sexual contact with an aged person. Rape is an example of this kind
of abuse. Though it seems highly improbable, sexual abuse of elderly takes place from
time to time.
PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE
This abuse causes mental anguish or fear of violence, or isolation to an aged person. Not
talking to an aged person is psychological abuse. Name-calling is another example of this
abuse. This kind of abuse is also designated as verbal or emotional abuse. The emotional
insecurity quotient is so high that one out of eight senior citizens in a study by Help Age
said that no one cared for them.
MATERIAL ABUSE
This type of abuse relates to property, assets and money of the victim. Improper/ ill-legal
abuse of property of an aged person amounts to this abuse. Theft and misappropriation of
money of an old person are examples of this abuse. Usurping of property of an elderly by
sweet-talking to him is quite a common material abuse. Elderly face this abuse from
relatives, neighbours and tenants. According to Help Age workers, incidence of elderly
couples being forced to sell their houses in Delhi is high. Some elderly people have also
complained to them that in case of a property dispute, they feel more helpless when their
wives side with the children. According to a study of Help Age, 52 per cent of elderly
face harassment for property, or know someone who does.
NEGLECT AND ABANDONMENT
Neglect is intentional or unintentional failure of a caregiver to fulfil any part of his or her
care-giving obligation towards an aged person. For example, failure to provide adequate
amount of food or medical assistance or care amounts to neglect of an aged person.

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LEVELS OF ELDER ABUSE
There are three levels of elder abuse, namely:
MACRO ABUSE refers to issues at the societal level such as lack of access to
health care, poor social security and institutional abuse.
MEZZO LEVEL refers to the injustice heaped on older people and their
marginalisation.
MICRO LEVEL refers to conflicts and interactions between two people. It may
be between an older person and an adult family member or a caregiver in an
institution.

PERPETRATORS AND VENUES OF ELDER ABUSE
Abuse can be overt or covert. Covert abuse is hidden. It is not direct. But all the same, it
is directed at the target. Derogatory reference to age is an example of covert abuse. Overt
abuse includes physical abuse, deprivation of residence, and denial of participation in
public and private functions as also non-cooperative attitude at public places. Abuse is
committed both by informal caregivers (members of family) and formal caregivers such
as servants, physicians and police personnel. Both known persons and strangers commit
elder abuse. Elder abuse takes place within homes. It also takes place in non-family
settings such as within institutions and in other public places. Elder abuse takes place in
all spheres of life - social, economic, official and even religious. Deprival of promotion
even to the deserving elderly employees on the basis of age is a kind of abuse in official
sphere. Ostracising of widows is an instance of elder abuse in religious sphere. Exclusion
of elderly from family celebrations is an instance of elder abuse in social sphere.


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REASONS FOR WHICH THE ELDERLY DO NOT LODGE COMPLAINTS
1. Fear of revenge by the accused
2. Lack of faith in police
3. Physical frailty of the victim
4. Lack of faith in legal system
5. In many cases victim is emotionally and financially dependent on the accused

CRIME AFFECTING ELDERLY
Senior citizens are victims of crimes of various kinds, namely,
1. Crimes against body (Murders, Culpable Homicide not Amounting to Murder,
Attempt to Murder, Grievous Hurt, Hurt, and Kidnapping & Abduction)
2. Crimes against property (Dacoit, Robbery, Burglary and Theft)
3. Economic crimes (Cheating, Criminal Breach of Trust) and
4. Other crimes including rape

MOTIVES FOR CRIME AGAINST ELDERLY
Desire of anti-social elements for wrongful gain is the main motive for incidents of crime
against elderly, who because of their frailty, lonely life and such other handicaps are
considered soft targets. Revenge is also a factor for many such incidents. On 14 June
2009, police in Mumbai (Andheri), arrested a 30-year old person for allegedly murdering
his 65-year old father, who was having extra-marital affairs and ignoring his mother.




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FACTORS FOR CRIME AGAINST ELDERLY
1. Usually the following factors responsible for crime against older persons:
2. Nuclear families
3. Migration of children
4. Isolation and loneliness of elderly
5. Their failing health and advancing age
6. Reluctance of family members to take responsibility of their elderly
7. Carelessness of elderly towards their own safety
8. Lack of social integration and support
9. Lack of communication of elderly with neighbours
10. Their dependence on servant
11. Inability of elderly to defend themselves
12. Inheritance and property matters
13. Lack of awareness of elderly about security schemes
14. Indifference of society and general decline in moral values

EFFECTS OF CRIME
Incidents of crime against elderly aggravate their feeling of vulnerability and
helplessness. Constant fear about ones security in many cases leads to depression. The
social effect of such crime is panic in the society, which gets heightened due to
overindulgence of print and electronic media, while reporting such incidence.




20

PROBLEMS OF POLICE IN ENFORCING SECURITY MEASURES
Some of these problems are:
1. Senior citizens do not provide details of their domestic helps and tenants for
verification
2. Insist on seeking redress from police of problems relating to other departments/ civic
agencies
3. Many of them want their problem redressed without any action against their tormentors
such as children, relatives or domestic helps
4. Their casualness/ forgetfulness towards safety and security advisories
5. In many cases senior citizens use their status to get rid of their legal problems
6. Quite a large number of problems of senior citizens such as boundary disputes with
neighbours are beyond the preview of police
7. Their casualness/ forgetfulness towards safety and securities advisories
8. On many occasions senior citizens become adamant on their view and it become
difficult to reason with them

SUGGESTIONS OF POLICE FOR RESIDENT WELFARE ASSOCIATIONS (RWAS)
AND NGOS
During the current study, police personnel of four metros; have given following
worthwhile suggestions for better security and well being of senior citizens:
a) RWAs should play active role in dispute redressal for resolving minor problems of
senior citizens.
b) They should be more effective in improving police-public, specially the senior
citizens, relationships.
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c) The NGOs should compile list of gerontologists for treatment of old age related
problems and supply the same to RWAs.
d) The NGOs should advise senior citizens on insurance, legal and investment
matters.
e) RWAs should launch from time to time drives to convince senior citizens to
follow police advisories concerning safety and security matters, verification of
antecedents of their domestic helps and tenants, and registration with police.
f) RWAs should help senior citizens to organise their own groups involving persons
from different walks of life like doctors, lawyers, security experts, etc. so that
their expertise can be of use to them in solving their problems mutually.

CIVIL SOCIETY INSTITUTIONS/RESIDENT WELFARE ASSOCIATIONS
1. Need for Better Security Precautions for RWAs
RWAs should arrange for better local area security --- both physical and manual. They
should regulate entry of outsiders including casual workers, vendors and tradesmen in
their premises more effectively.
2. Dispute Redressal
They should play active role in resolving minor problems of senior citizens.
3. Security Vetting of Tradesmen and Domestic Helps
RWAs should provide a panel of verified electricians, plumbers and other tradesmen for
service in their premises. They should have arrangements with registered firms/
placement agencies for providing reliable domestic help to houses in their premises.
4. Sensitization of Residents about Security Matters
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RWAs should launch from time to time drives to convince senior citizens and other
residents to follow advisories concerning safety and security matters, verification of
antecedents of their domestic helps and tenants, and registration with police.
5. Self Help Groups
RWAs, NGOs, youth clubs, and women groups should help senior citizens to organise
their own groups/ organisations involving persons from different walks of life like
doctors, lawyers, security experts, etc. so that their expertise can be of use to them in
solving their problems mutually. State Governments should partly fund senior citizens
groups/ organisations.
6. Community Liaison Groups
They should also organize volunteers to pay regular visits to senior citizens to attend to
their emotional needs and to run errands for them.
7. Neighbourhood Watch Schemes
RWAs, Senior Citizens Welfare Associations, Senior Citizens Neighbourhood Societies
should evolve and enforce neighbourhood watch schemes.

MEASURES TOWARDS THE SECURITY OF SENIOR CITIZENS:
a) If the house is large and away from habitation, keep one or two dogs as pet (s).
Dogs by barking at strangers alert house inmates.
b) Maintain amiable relations with neighbours.
c) Make will for belongings/property timely and get the same registered.
d) Dont use the locks the keys of which have been lost, replace such locks.
e) Dont give information to strangers over telephone.

23

Vijaita Singh, a journalist says, Senior citizens should display telephone numbers of
relatives and friends at some conspicuous place, preferably near telephone console, so
that they could be contacted in case of emergency.

WELFARE PROGRAMMES FOR ELDERLY
Delhi police encourages programmes, which are intended to improve/promote quality of
life, comfort-level, social activities and mental happiness of lonely senior citizens and
mitigate their isolation and hardships. Several schools, NGOs, residents welfare
associations, hospitals and charitable persons/institutions have launched many such
programmes, though the reach and coverage of these programmes continue to be limited.
Nevertheless, these programmes are helpful towards welfare of senior citizens. Health
check-up camps organised by Delhi police in association with medical institutions,
adoption of senior citizens by schoolchildren who provide them company and emotional
support, and community liaison groups scheme, the members of which act as local
guardians of lonely senior citizens, are some example of such programmes. Cheerful and
depression free senior citizens are more alert and better secured.

LEGAL PROVISIONS
Article 41 of Part IV (Directive Principles of State Policy) of the Constitution of India
enjoins upon the State to ensure to the people of India, within the limits of its means,
employment, education and public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness
and disablement, and in other cases of undeserved want. Provision of social security to
the aged is thus one of the directive principles. Though these principles are un-
enforceable through the courts, they are nevertheless fundamental in the governance of
the country. These principles are primarily intended to usher in economic democracy in
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the country. The Seventh Schedule of the Constitution has entries that enable both the
State Governments and Government of India to make laws to ameliorate the lot of elderly
and other weaker sections.
In addition, India is a signatory of various UN backed international agreements to protect
the life and dignity of the aged such as the United Nations Principles for Older Persons
adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1991.

NATIONAL POLICY ON OLD PERSONS (NPOP)
Obligated by these provisions, the Government of India announced a National Policy on
Old Persons (NPOP) in 1999 seeking participation by the community at large to ensure
financial security, health care, shelter, welfare and other important needs of the elderly.
Some of the provisions of NPOP have been given statutory basis by the Maintenance and
Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 (No. 56 of 2007). The NPOP, inter-alia,
also envisages the following aspects, which have profound bearing on provision of
physical security and crime control in relation to the elderly:
Gearing up of security network to save older persons from criminal offences
Keeping of friendly vigil on older persons by the police
Early settlement of property and inheritance disputes to which an elderly is a party
Safeguarding elderly from fraudulent dealings in transfer of property through
sale/will
Free legal aid for elderly
Provision of toll-free help-lines for the aged
Media playing a constructive role in identifying emerging issues and areas of
action for well-being of elderly, dispelling stereo-type and negative images about
the old age, maintaining restraint from creating fear psychosis among elderly by
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responsible reporting, promoting international bonds and familiarizing
individuals/families/groups with appropriate information on ageing processes.

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF OLDER PERSONS (NCOP)
It is headed by the Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment of Government of India.
Its functions include advising the Government on policies and programmes for older
persons, redressal of grievances of older persons and representing collective opinion of
older persons to the Government. Its members are experienced and well known
individuals representing NGOs, citizens groups, and retired persons associations.
Members of NCOP also include persons from the fields of law, social welfare and
security, research and medicine.

INSTITUTIONAL CARE FOR AGED
Steadfast adherence by individuals to the principle of moral responsibility towards their
families has proved to be the biggest insurance mechanism in India against fatalities,
other misfortunes and old age. This has been the practice universally across the country
irrespective of caste, religion or ethnicity. Because of this adherence, a strong necessity
has not been felt for non-family institutions for provisioning of social security in India.
Though there are clear symptoms of collapsing of this traditional support system, the
makers of NPOP have assumed that social security role of family in India is continuing.
Because of this fallacy, despite so many commitments and several initiatives for the well
being of elderly, majority of aged in India remains confronted with serious physical,
financial and health issues. It is high time for modifying this assumption and making
efforts for putting in place institutional arrangements for care of elderly in India. In this
context, private sector bodies, suitably subsidized and regulated by the State, need to be
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set up for affordable elderly care facilities for non-destitute aged person, besides large
scale expansion of such facilities, run by NGOs, at state expense, for the destitute elderly.
Elderly living under institutional care arrangement would also be better secured against
crime and abuse. Incentives may also be considered for families and hoteliers who are
willing to take non-destitute senior citizens on affordable rates as paying guests.




















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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Reference Books
6. Ahuja Ram, 1997, Social Problems in India, Rawat Publication, Jaipur
7. Assadi Muzafer, 2011, Human Rights & Social Justice, Serials Publication, New
Delhi
8. Bharihoke Neera, 2009, Human Rights and The Law, Serials Publication, New
Delhi
9. Das P.B., 2012, Human Rights in India, Sagar Publishers, Jaipur
10. Nararsaiah M.L., 2006, NGOs and Human Rights, Discovery Publishing House,
New Delhi


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