12m senior citizens suffer due to absence of national policy
The absence of a national policy on senior citizens has contributed to the deteriorating plight of the elderly, who number 1.2 crore in the country at present, experts said. Changing lifestyles, rapid urbanisation, decline in traditional values and erosion of the family support system, coupled with the fact that the policymakers are paying little attention to them, have been responsible for their worsening plight, particularly the indigent and the women, the experts pointed out.
“Without a comprehensive national policy on older persons, different safety net programmes and other small-scale initiatives by various development actors will largely remain without direction,” Bangladesh Association of the Aged and Institute of Geriatric Medicine (BAAIGM) secretary general Prof. ASM Atiqur Rahman told The Independent.
“The problem of ageing would be a matter of major concern at the national level in the foreseeable future, but we have been unaware, negligent and inactive in this regard for a long time. The country is undergoing a demographic transition and the proportion of the 60 years and older in population is increasing rapidly,” he pointed out.
The latest population census of Bangladesh (2011) showed that 7.4 per cent of its population comprises the elderly. This percentage is projected to increase to eight per cent in 2020, 11.9 per cent in 2035 and 17 per cent in 2050.
“At present, the number of elderly people is about 1.20 crore, which was about 25 lakh in 1971. It is estimated that in 2025, it would be about 1.80 crore and about four crore by 2050, which is nearly 20 per cent of the total population. One in every five people would be elderly. Their numbers would exceed the number of children,” Dr Rahman pointed out.
“The problem of ageing is assuming alarming proportions in the country, but we are not prepared to tackle it. It is very much a subjective and individual challenge. Almost 80 per cent of older persons possess weaker health, are unemployed, and are dependent. They are virtually neglected, vulnerable, and isolated from the mainstream of family and society,” he observed.
“This is the right time to take proper steps for ensuring the rights of the older persons and building up a beautiful Bangladesh for citizens of all ages. Ageing would be the biggest challenge in the field of socio-economic development and health after
some 10 to 15 years,” he added.
He said though there are many non-government organisations (NGOs), only a few such organisations work for the welfare of the elderly.
He said, “The younger generation has to understand the problems of ageing. There is no alternative to incorporating the issues of the elderly in the text curriculum as it is absent in the traditional and professional education system and does not get a separate space in the mass media.”
Though many countries in the world have different policies and laws to ensure the rights of the older population, there is hardly any such separate policy or law to safeguard the rights of elderly persons in this country. Even the National Policy on Older Persons has been stuck in the official files for a long time and is currently awaiting final approval of the cabinet, he added.
India’s legislation on senior citizens stipulates that if a person responsible for a senior citizen abandons him/her, the person shall be punishable with imprisonment for up to three months, or a fine up to INR 5,000, or both. Even Nepal has a Senior Citizens Act, 2006, that protects the social security of senior citizens. Vietnam has passed the Law on the Elderly in 2010 for prohibiting discrimination against the elderly in Article 9(1) of their constitution. Taiwan has the Employment Services Act, 2007, under which employers cannot discriminate against jobseekers on the basis of age. Chile has established the National Senior Service to ensure and promote awareness of the rights of the elderly. Japan has a law concerning stabilisation of employment of older persons, designed to secure opportunities for work for those who have retired upon reaching the retirement age, and other older retirees.
The elderly people in general are neglected. The Constitution of Bangladesh clearly declares in Article 15(D) that the government should introduce social security programmes for the insolvent elderly population and Article 19(1) says, “The State shall endeavour to ensure equality of opportunity to all citizens.”
“The social welfare ministry has finalised the National Policy on the Elderly, but it has not yet received final approval. If the policy is approved, older persons’ rights and privileges in different fields would be ensured,” Dr Rahman added.
He observed that the political parties are friendly to the elderly. During the national elections in 1996, 2001 and 2008 in Bangladesh, the major political parties of the country mentioned old-age healthcare and welfare commitments for the elderly in their election manifestos. However, he noted with regret that all parties forget the promises mentioned in election manifestos.
He also suggested separate facilities for old people in public transport and at ticket counters, banks and hospitals.
Regarding the proposed policy for older persons, Suraiya Begum, ndc, secretary in the ministry of social welfare, told The Independent that the policy is currently being vetted. “We are working on it,” she added.
About the social safety net programme for the elderly, Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) chairman Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said though a number of initiatives has been taken for the welfare of older people, most of the programmes are not sufficient to reach the large swathes of the elderly in the country.
“We appreciate the social safety net programme launched by the government for the elderly people, but it is not enough. More needs to be done. Because of resource limitations, the state has to work on a priority basis. As the numbers of elderly people are increasing rapidly, the existing programmes, including old age allowances, are not sufficient. But the government has resource limitations. It is a dilemma,” he said.
“We have to pay attention to the economic aspects of the elderly population. Allowances have to be increased. Those older persons who are able-bodied can be involved in different kinds of work,” he added.
Dr Kholiquzzaman Ahmad also proposed an insurance policy for the elderly population so that they can lead a decent life, adding that the pension system, as in other countries, can be applied to the older persons.
The government should formally declare people aged above 60 years as ‘senior citizens’, besides adopting effective policies for them and creating an environment friendly to the elderly people, Dr Rahman said. The elderly population should not be isolated: rather, they should be encouraged to engage actively and participate in social, cultural and economic arenas as much as possible.
-With The Independent input
