Neglect, property demand top on seniors’ grumble

5/06/2017

PUNE: Harassment over property and a general neglect of their needs are some of the most common complaints made by senior citizens who have approached Pune Police's newly-established senior citizens cell for redresal of their grievance.

The cell primarily works towards finding a solution to the problems faced by the elderly before the matter can take a serious turn. While a newly constructed facility of the cell was inaugurated on April 25 at the Pune Police Commissioner's office, the police have received 52 such complaints since January this year. Twenty eight of these were reported over the last one month.

Police inspector Swati Thorat, who is in-charge of the cell, told pune-news.com, "Many senior citizens are approaching the cell with their grievances. Earlier, we used to receive one complaint application after every three-four days. Now, we received one complaint every day."

Since January, the cell has received 52 complaints from senior citizens living in different parts of the city. They are advised to visit the cell after primary information on the legal provisions is informed to them over a dedicated telephone helpline number 1090. "A majority of the complaints have been received after the cell shifted to a dedicated room having counselling facilities," Thorat said.

Thorat said, "An assessment of the 52 complaints showed that 90% of senior citizens have grievances against their wards who harass them over property issues. They are troubled to part with land, gold, or apartments to which the seniors are emotionally attached. The children want them to sell their property in order to buy some other property with the money earned from the sale proceeds. Such a situation mostly leads to a tussle and the parents are harassed by their children."

The remaining 10% of applications are complaints of neglect by their wards. Children do not speak or discuss household issues with their elderly parents. They do not take them out on tours with other family members. In such a scenario, the life of senior citizens remains restricted to their homes.