Survey finds 16% elderly women facing abuse, sons are primary perpetrators

NEW DELHI: Of the 7,911 respondents to a survey of elderly women between 60 to 89 years from across the country, nearly 16% (1,276) said that they had faced some kind of abuse ranging from physical to emotional, with 40% (510) citing the son to be the primary perpetrator. As many as 17% of the seniors had faced abuse from their spouse.

The findings bring into focus a worrisome concern as data shows that 43% of those who had faced abuse had been victims of physical violence.

As far as abuse is concerned, the majority of elderly women who are facing abuse are from rural areas (17%) and are in the age group of 80-90 years (25%).

The report also brings into focus the gender-based vulnerability of women throughout their life to abuse. As many as 8% (649) of the women surveyed reported to have faced violence when they were young (childhood and youth) with fathers cited to be the ones inflicting violence in 31% (201) cases followed by other relatives (39%); mothers (5%), aunts (5%); uncle (4%); grandfather (3%) and grandmother (2%). As many as 6% (503) women had faced abuse in both young and old age.

The study ‘Women & Ageing: Invisible or Empowered?’ released by non-profit organisation HelpAge India to mark ‘World Elder Abuse Awareness Day’ observed each year on June 15, shows that over 43% women among those who had faced abuse had faced physical abuse; 40% had experienced emotional/psychological abuse; 32% were financially exploited; 29% faced neglect and there were 4% elderly women who had faced sexual abuse.

The data has been drawn from 20 states including at least one aspirational district in each state, two Union Territories (Delhi and Chandigarh) and five metro cities (Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad). The report based on a comprehensive survey conducted in May-June highlights the gender inequality gap and the vulnerability elderly women face in various spheres of life. It throws up some hard facts such as 54% are illiterate, 43% are widowed, 75% do not have any savings, 66% of older women don’t own assets and many feel financially insecure.

Overall a significantly high number of elderly women (47%) among those who have faced abuse said they were victims of “disrespect”. In fact, of the total respondents, 50% elderly women think that elder abuse is prevalent in society with disrespect topping their definition of abuse followed by verbal and physical abuse.

Besides the son and spouse, elderly women reported to be facing all kinds of abuse at the hands of daughter -in-laws (27%) and daughters (10%). While other relatives accounted for a significant 31%, the women were also being abused by grandchildren( 7%), son-in-laws (6%) and house helps (6%).

However, despite facing the abuse most older women did not report it due to ‘fear of retaliation or further abuse’ (18%) being the top reason, followed by 16% who seemed to have no awareness of available resources. The survey that only 15% of the women were aware of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act.

Rohit Prasad, CEO, HelpAge India asserted the need for urgent measures like special schemes for elderly women and recourse to redressal mechanisms for elder abuse, raising awareness about government welfare scheme and greater priority in pension, healthcare and economic participation programmes.

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