CJ: Vyasamoorthy
The case of the elderly couple, Ramakrishna and Radha, is a poignant example that shows why abuse of the elderly is a reason for serious concern. It is time the elderly put their foot down and become more assertive of their rights. .
90-year-old Ramakrishna and his wife Radha Bhai, 82, are victims of abuse in their own house. The offenders in this case are none other than their own son, Anil Kumar and his wife, Anjali. Anil had lost his job when he was barely 50 and has been wasting or idling his time at home ever since; his children attend engineering colleges. As his wife holds down a job, she has an upper hand in the management of the home. The old man receives sufficient pension of his own.Though Ramakrishna has a two-bedroom house, he is practically not permitted to emerge from the only room 'allotted' to them. He suffers from Alzheimers' disease and cannot look after himself. But the extended family still shares a common kitchen, toilet and passageway. Once the daughter-in-law has left for her office, the aged parents prepare their own food in the common kitchen. The son harbours such resentment for his parents (for refusing to bequeath the house to him in their will) that he even refuses to entertain visitors for his parents. The daughter-in-law also refuses to do have anything to do with her parents-in-law. She will not even allow her husband to fetch bread or milk for his parents when they are sick.
Recently when Radha Bhai went to the bank to withdraw some cash (Rs10,000), she was expecting to see a balance of Rs45,000, but was told by the bank that all the money had been drawn already. Even for heating water for bathing, the daughter-in-law would not allow her parents-in-law to use the electric heater. So instead, the elderly couple heat their own water on a gas stove. There would be a big scene were the father-in-law to pick up the newspaper bought by his son.
Abridged
SOURCE: Merinews - New Delhi,India
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