Elder Abuse and Mistreatment in Nepal

Abstract

Our Eastern philosophy is inspired by the respectful saying ‘matri devo bhawa, pitri devo bhawa’ which means mother and father are gods. We are inspired by the story of a boy named Shrawan Kumar who despite being sightless not only dedicated his whole life towards the ease and comfort of his parents but also carried them around to show them the world. The Nepalese society once believed that only fortunate enough people get to serve their parents and live a blissful life but now the tables have turned. The society in which an obedient son like Shrawan Kumar was remembered has now started to hear the news of parting their parents in the streets and charitable old age homes. Such news not only brings tears in our eyes but kills the hope of living a long life. As per the Senior Citizen Act, 2063 B.S. (2006 A.D.), the people aged 60 years are termed as senior citizens. As per the population census 2012 A.D. (2068 B.S.), the total population of Nepal is 2,66,20,809. The male population is 1,29,27,431 and the female population is 1,36,93,378. The senior citizen population growth rate is 8.13% and their population is around 9.1% which is around 2.5–3 millions. Out of the total population of seniors, only 17% reside in city areas. *Nepal conducts population census every 10 years only. The migrated population is not included. The trend of intellectual and skilled migration has given rise to unproductive agricultural sector whereby our seniors are left with massive fertile lands with no helping hands to sow any crops. Sharing love, care and affection is a matter of dream for them as they would not have any youths to contribute even in the death funerals. With the increasing argument over the trend of urbanization, youth migration, work-life conflict, change in lifestyle and varying moral values, there has been an increase in the trend of physical, mental, sexual, financial and emotional abuses for our seniors. Nowadays, our seniors travel in a public vehicle, participate in ceremonies and visit government offices only if they are in desperate need and this is not because of their health issues but because of the discomfort vehicle services, unhygienic public toilets and geriatric unfriendly layout. Even the old age homes that are built to comfort them also lack the basic infrastructures to ease their lives. It is not that the state has not been able to provide the benefits for the senior citizens. It is that the processes of receiving such benefits are too lengthy and complicated so most of them prefer not to receive it. The situation is just the same in justice systems. Because of the prolonged judgements, many of our seniors have had their last breath fighting for justice and what was supposed to be naturally theirs. Due to the ineffective implementation and monitoring of their rights, the well off seniors are bound to shut their mouth against their violence or mistreatment, whereas the poor are already the victims of elderly abuse. Despite all these incidents, Nepal government itself has established its own old age home at famous religious place in Kathmandu in the Pashupatinath area called the Pashupati Briddhashram. It has also been supporting various charitable old age homes and NGOs that work for the senior citizens who do not have anyone or anything. The Constitution of Nepal 2072 B.S. (2015 A.D.) Section 41 guarantees the Rights of Senior Citizens: The senior citizens shall have the right to special protection and social security from the state. Likewise, Senior Citizens Act 2063 B.S. (2006 A.D.), Senior Citizens Rules, 2065 B.S. (2008 A.D.), Senior Citizen Policy and Working Policy 2065 B.S. (2002 A.D.), Senior Citizen National Working Plan 2062 B.S. (2005 A.D.) also exist for the protection of rights of senior citizens of Nepal. Apart from the above-mentioned policies, there are many good signs shown in favour of senior citizens like the emerging trend of NGOs, INGOs and volunteers who are playing a vital role to improve elderly life. In 2016 July, the South Asia Senior Citizen Forum had conducted a workshop at Kathmandu, Nepal and released a ten points declaration in favour of the member country’s senior citizens.