24 January 2014
Fifty per cent of the Delhi's senior citizens are willing to take their children to courts if they face abuse at their hands, according to a recent DU study.
A majority of them, however, maintained that they will prefer to sort out the issues within the family.
Conducted by Professor NK Chadha and Assistant Professor Sarabjit Kaur Sran, the study revealed 86 per cent of the surveyed people found it difficult to approach the police and courts due to their "insensitive nature".
A mere 30 per cent were aware about the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act and its benefits.
While 90 per cent of the respondents said they have come across an elder abuse case, none of them have ever come across anyone who benefitted from the Act.
According to the study, the Act was seen an attack on the traditional Indian family system by 96.67 per cent of the citizens.
As per the Act, tribunals are empowered to fix a monthly maintenance allowance up to Rs 10,000.
Failures can lead to a fine up to Rs 5,000, or threemonth jail, or both.
"As many as 75 per cent of the surveyed people said the reasons for children not taking care of their parent are change in the social fabric, influence of western culture and increase in individualistic approach towards life," Chadha said.
One of the reasons why cases of abuse go unreported is because parents do not want to go against their children.
"Ninety eight per cent of the elderly who face abuse do not file any complaints against their perpetrators as they are not aware of their rights or are unable to communicate their plight due to their poor physical condition," he said.
A total of 300 respondents had participated in the survey.
Three age groups – (60- 80 years), (30-45 years) and (18-22 years) – consisting of 100 respondents each participated in the exercise
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