International Day for Older Persons (1st October)

 International Day for Older Persons (1st October)

 

“International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity.”

Background

On 14 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly designated October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons.

This was preceded by initiatives such as the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, which was adopted by the 1982 World Assembly on Ageing and endorsed later that year by the UN General Assembly.

 In 1991, the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Principles for Older Persons.

In 2002, the Second World Assembly on Ageing adopted the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, “to respond to the opportunities and challenges of population ageing in the 21st century and to promote the development of a society for all ages.”

The holiday is celebrated by raising awareness about issues affecting the elderly, such as senescence and elder abuse. It is also a day to appreciate the contributions that older people make to society.

This holiday is similar to National Grandparents Day in the United States and Canada as well as Double Ninth Festival in China and Respect for the Aged Day in Japan. The observance is a focus of ageing organisations and the United Nations Programme on Ageing.

The celebration of International Day of Older Persons is done to create awareness and empathy regarding the well being of the elderly. People usually celebrate the day by spending time with their grandparents, visiting old age homes and N.G.O's and cooking or baking for them. Some children give greeting cards to their elderly on this day.

The composition of the world population has changed dramatically in recent decades. Between 1950 and 2010, life expectancy worldwide rose from 46 to 68 years. Globally, there were 703 million persons aged 65 or over in 2019. The region of Eastern and South-Eastern Asia was home to the largest number of older persons (261 million), followed by Europe and Northern America (over 200 million).

Among development groups, less developed countries excluding the least developed countries will be home to more than two-thirds of the world’s older population (1.1 billion) in 2050. Yet the fastest increase is projected to take place in the least developed countries, where the number of persons aged 65 or over could rise from 37 million in 2019 to 120 million in 2050 (225%).

Over the next three decades, the number of older persons worldwide is projected to more than double, reaching more than 1.5 billion persons in 2050，and 80% of them will be living in low and middle-income countries.

 Out of the World's Elderly Population, 1/8th lives in India.

The demographic profile depicts that from the years 2000-2050, the overall population in India will grow by 55 percent whereas population of people in their 60 years and above will increase by 326 percent and those in the age group of 80-plus by a whopping 700 percent.

International Day for Older Persons (IDOP), 2021

Theme - “Digital Equity for All Ages”

 

Objectives

a.   To address digital availability, connectivity, design, affordability, capacity building, infrastructure, and innovation in the areas of public and private interests.

b.   To bring awareness of the importance of digital inclusion of older persons, while tackling stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination associated with digitalization taking into account sociocultural norms and the right to autonomy.

c.    To highlight policies to leverage digital technologies for full achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

d.   To explore the role of policies and legal frameworks to ensure privacy and safety of older persons in the digital world.

e.   To promote an intersectional person-centered human rights approach for a society for all ages taking into account existing/non-existing legal instruments in the field of digitalization.

 

Comment

a.   The United Nations International Day of Older Persons 2021 theme “Digital Equity for All Ages” predicates the need for access and meaningful participation in the digital world by older persons.

b.   The fourth industrial revolution characterized by rapid digital innovation, characterized by exponential growth has transformed all sectors of society including how we live, work and relate to one another. Technological advances offer great hope for accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet, one-half of the global population is off-line, with the starkest differences reflected between most and least developed countries (87% and 19% respectively).2 Recent reports by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) indicate that women and older persons experience digital inequity to a greater extent than other groups in society; they either lack access to technologies or are often not benefitting fully from the opportunities provided by technological progress.

c.    Meanwhile, as efforts to connect more people are currently under way, new risks have become apparent. For example, cybercrimes and misinformation threaten the human rights, privacy, and security of older people. The rapid speed of adoption of digital technology has outpaced policy and governance at the national, regional, and global levels.

 

 

 

What is Digital Equity

Digital Equity is a condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy and economy.  Digital Equity is necessary for civic and cultural participation, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential services.

 

 

What is Digital Inclusion?

• Digital inclusion is the ability of individuals and groups to access and use information and communication technologies.
• Digital Inclusion refers to the activities necessary to ensure that all individuals and communities, including the most disadvantaged, have access to and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).  This includes 5 elements: 1) affordable, robust broadband internet service; 2) internet-enabled devices that meet the needs of the user; 3) access to digital literacy training; 4) quality technical support; and 5) applications and online content designed to enable and encourage self-sufficiency, participation and collaboration.

 

 

Digital Inclusion of Older Persons

• Older Person’s Rights

f.     To Information

g.   To Health & Care

h.   To Education

i.      To Social Integration & Social Participation

 

·       Barriers to Digital Inclusion

a.   Awareness & Interest

b.   Literacy & Finance

c.    Cost & Acquisition

d.   Installation & Adoption

e.   Design & User Experience

f.     Skills & Ability

g.   Motivations & Attitudes

h.   Trust & Privacy

 

·       Improvement on Three Levels

a.   Technical Level

b.   Structural Level

c.    Social Level

-       Financial & Technical Support

-       Learning Opportunities

 

 

Implementation Mechanism for infrastructure development & Capacity Building

 

a. IT Training: IT Training is specific to the Information Technology (IT) industry, or to the skills necessary for performing information technology jobs. IT Training includes courses related to the application, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems.

 

b. IT infrastructure Creation: Establishment of ICT Infrastructure are available for the capacity building and enhancement in livelihood activities of focus groups which will be available for sustainability.

c. Capacity Building: To obtain, improve, and retain the skills, knowledge on ICT tools & equipment and other resources needed to perform the job competently or to a greater capacity.

d. Entrepreneur Creation: Entrepreneurship is the process of designing, launching and running a new business, which is often initially a small business. It has been described as the “capacity and willingness to develop, organize and manage a business venture along with any of its risks to make a profit”.

e. Cluster Development: The economic development of business clusters to stimulate urban and rural economic growth. The purpose is to promote economic development within the cluster by improving the competitiveness of one or several specific business sectors.

f. Deployment of IT Tools: To develop IT tools keeping in mind the needs of focused groups and deployment of the same for increasing their efficiency and increase livelihood activities.

 

Policies & Legal Framework

 

National Policy on Senior Citizens

Objectives:

In principle the policy values an age integrated society. It will endeavour to strengthen integration between generations, facilitate interaction between the old and the young as well as strengthen bonds between different age groups. It believes in the development of a formal and informal social support system, so that the capacity of the family to take care of senior citizens is strengthened and they continue to live in the family. The policy seeks to reach out in particular to the bulk of senior citizens living in rural areas who are dependent on family bonds and intergenerational understanding and support.

Areas of Intervention

a.   Income Secturity in Old Age

-       Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme

-       Public Distribution System

-       Income Tax Exemption

-       Micro-finance

b.   Healthcare

-       Use of science and technology such as web based services and devices for the well being and safety of senior citizens will be encouraged and expanded to under-serviced areas.

-       National and regional institutes of ageing will be set up to promote geriatric healthcare. Adequate budgetary support will be provided to these institutes and a cadre of geriatric healthcare specialists created including professionally trained caregivers to provide care to the elderly at affordable prices.

c.    Safety and Security

d.   Housing

e.   Productive Ageing

f.     Welfare

g.   Multigenerational bonding

h.   Media

 

 

Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007

 

*New Amendments Bill in December 2019, yet to be cleared by the Parliament.

 *Differences between Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007 and Amendment Bill 2009

Specifications	Act, 2007	Amendment Bill 2009
Children	Children refers to children and grandchildren, excluding minors.	Now step-children, adoptive children, children-in-law, and the legal guardian of minor children have been added.
Relatives	The original Act defined relative as the legal heir of a childless senior citizen, excluding minors, who possess or would inherit his property after death.	The amendment bill seeks to expand the definition to include minors and they would be represented by their legal guardians.
Parents	In the original Act, parents include biological, adoptive, and step-parents.	Expanding the scope of parents, the proposed amendment includes parents-in-law, and grandparents.
Maintenance	The first version of the Act termed maintenance as the provision of food, clothing, residence, medical attendance and treatment.	The new proposal increases the scope to include the provision of healthcare, safety, and security for parents and senior citizens to lead a dignified life.
Welfare	In the existing Act, welfare means the provision of food, healthcare, and other amenities necessary for senior citizens.	In the proposed amendment, the definition includes the provision of housing, clothing, safety, and other amenities necessary for the physical and mental well-being of a senior citizen or parent.
Maintenance amount	The states were asked to form Maintenance Tribunals and decide on the monthly maintenance amount payable to senior citizens by children and relatives which should not cross Rs 10,000 per month. Moreover, children and relatives must pay the maintenance amount within 30 days of the order of the Tribunal.	In the proposed changes, the upper limit on the maintenance fee cease to exist and the income of both sides have to be studied before fixing the monthly maintenance amount. Moreover, children and relatives must pay the maintenance amount within 15 days of the order of the Tribunal.
Maintenance officer	As per the existing Act, the parent or senior citizen may be represented by a maintenance officer during Tribunal proceedings.	Expanding the role of the maintenance officer, it says he/she will ensure compliance with orders on maintenance payments and be a liaison for parents or senior citizens.
Appeals	The Act allows senior citizens or parents to appeal the decision of the Tribunal.	In the proposed amendment, children and relatives may also appeal decisions of the Tribunal.
Abandonment of senior citizen or parent	According to the current Act, the offence is punishable with imprisonment of up to three months, or a fine of up to Rs 5,000, or both.	The proposed amendment makes the offence punishable with imprisonment between three and six months, or a fine of up to Rs 10,000, or both.
Abuse of senior citizen	In the existing Act, there is no provision of punishment for abuse of senior citizens.	The proposed amendment makes it punishable with imprisonment between three and six months, or a fine of up to Rs 10,000, or both.
Care homes	The present Act mandates state governments to set up at least one old age home in every district with a capacity to house 150 senior citizens.	As per the proposed amendment, senior citizen care homes may be set up by either government or private organisations but they must be registered with a registration authority set up by the state government. The Centre will fix minimum standards for these homes in terms of infrastructure and medical facilities.
Home-care services	In the original Act, there is no provision of home care services.	However, in the proposed amendment there will be institutions providing homecare but they must have trained and certified staff and the institutions must be registered with a registration authority set up by the state government.
Healthcare	The existing Act provides for facilities such as separate queues and beds for senior citizens in government hospitals.	The proposed amendments say all hospitals including private organisations must provide these facilities for senior citizens.
Police protection	The original Act has no provision for police protection to senior citizens.	As per the proposed amendment, every police station must have at least one officer (not below the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector) to deal with issues related to parents and senior citizens. The state governments must create a special police unit for senior citizens in every district and it will be headed by a police officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.