A report by HelpAge India has revealed that around 22 per cent of elders in India experience abuse. The report that spanned 24 cities in the country, including Thiruvananthapuram, points out that 92 per cent of elders agreed to the prevalence of elder abuse.
The report was based on a survey on elder abuse conducted by HelpAge India, a charitable trust working for the welfare of elders in the country.
This is the third in a series of yearly surveys conducted by HelpAge exposing the vulnerability of elders in India.
According to the survey, the major reasons behind the abuse of elders include lack of adjustment, economic dependence of elders, and increasing longevity. 70 per cent of the abused hesitate to report it. The major reasons behind not reporting include the attempt to maintain the confidentiality of family matters, fear of retaliation and the lack of awareness on how to deal with the problem, the report said.
Among the cities, Hyderabad showed the highest rate of elder abuse with 37.05 per cent.
The report said that the mechanisms suggested by the elderly to deal with this problem is to sensitise children and strengthen intergenerational bonding, increase economic independence of elders, and sensitise young adults.
The trust conducted awareness programmes in several schools in the state on Thursday and Friday.