Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)
Mangaluru, Jun 16: A recent survey conducted by HelpAge India that the city stands first in the country in harassing elders has been condemned by various quarters. Several people working for helplines of senior citizens and old age homes have questioned the veracity of the report.
Only 1,292 complaints were registered in the helpline centre of Mangaluru regarding harassment of senior citizens in families during the last 13 years. Labelling Mangaluru as leading considering the opinions in only 23 cities in the country is unfair, say people. The harassment cases of elders may be reported here and there once in a while, but those cannot make Mangaluru notorious, opine many.
As per the report published in the website of HelpAge India, 25 houses in every city where elderly people reside were selected on cluster level for research.
Out of the 1,292 complaints received on helplines since 2005, senior citizens complained of demands to transfer ownership of house, division of property etc. There were also complaints that children do not look after them.
According to the research conducted by HelpAge India, 47% of the elders in Mangaluru were being harassed. However, the helpline has received a total of 11,813 complaints in the last 18 years. Complaints of harassment among them were very few. Out of the total, 1,292 complaints registered from 2005 to 2018 were regarding cheating by members of the family. The remaining complaints pertain to fraud, cheating and missing of elderly people. Only a few complaints among have been registered in police stations.
However, complaints of harassment, that too exploitation by son and daughter-in-law are rare. It has given rise to suspicion about the survey. Therefore, people here have expressed anguish at the report which they say is meant to spoil the reputation of Mangaluru.
Suresh Rao, secretary of the association of senior citizens said that he was surprised to see the news. He expressed doubts about the survey adding that nobody contacted the association for facts.