According to Indian culture, Parents are placed on par with Gods. The apt phrase, ‘Respect your parents, teachers and elders’ just sums up the whole nation’s philosophy. India is well known for its virtual importance of discipline and moral values, which we take pride in being an Indian.
The unconditional love that the parents have for their children is unmatched that they handle their child with complete care and protection. We run short of adjectives and superlatives to describe the affinity between parents and children. On the dark side, things are not the same now as it was before.
There are some people who take care of their parents till their last breathe whereas some fail to do the same which is deemed contrary to the spirit of human values. Recently, a new survey revealed about the ‘abuse’ faced by the elderly people in Delhi has showed that 82% of the victims do not file a complaint citing it as a “family secret”.
These problems occur inside the four walls and only the parents know how they are being treated by their sons, daughter-in-law, spouse and grandchildren. Majority of the wrongdoers of the abuse were believed to be 62% sons, followed by daughter-in-law (44%), spouse or partner (11%) and grandchildren (7%).
Talking about the lack of interest in taking care of the elderly in contemporary world, DU sociology professor Dr Mala Kapur Shankardass said the smallest unit of society, the family are dividing, resulting in further isolation of the elderly. According to her, the only way to address the issue to develop a sense of empathy in children right from their date of birth.
It is learnt that 33% of the 218 respondents in the capital experienced some form of abuse. A year ago, Assam Government has passed a rule that every government employee should take care of their parents. If they fail to do so, the 10% percent of salary deducted from their monthly earnings will be given to the parents and siblings.
Shockingly, the reports reveal that the respondents had been facing abuse for the past 6 years but 77% of the participants did not report it, thinking of it as a “secret family matter”.
Social media and technology disintegrated the families, leading to further isolation. The survey states that while verbal abuse (58%), disrespect (48%), neglect (34%), economic exploitation (11%) and even physical violence (10%) are the primary factors leading abuse.
