16% elderly women of Bengaluru have faced some form of abuse by sons, relatives, daughters-in-law: Survey

During a survey in Bengaluru, 16 per cent elderly women admitted that they have suffered abuse in the hands of their sons, relatives and daughters-in-law. Verbal and physical abuses, disrespect, economic exploitation, emotional abuse and unwelcome sexual contact are the prevalent forms of abuse, the survey further revealed.

NGO HelpAge India, on ‘World Elder Abuse Awareness Day’ on June 14, released its national 2023 report — “Women & Ageing: Invisible or Empowered?”. The survey spread across the length and breadth of the country covering both rural and urban India across 20 states, including Karnataka, two union territories and five Metro cities, including Bengaluru, with a national sample size of 7,911 across various socio-economic categories. The sample size in Karnataka, including Bengaluru, was 578 elderly women. The respondents were in the age-group of 60-90 years.

According to the survey in Bengaluru, “As much as 33 per cent of senior women engaged in full-time or part-time employment. About 66 per cent of elderly women in the metropolis do not work. About 85 per cent of senior women who work say that they work in an employment-friendly atmosphere. As much as 65 per cent of elderly women say they feel financially secure due to the support extended by their family members and government pensions. On the issue of elderly abuse, 49 per cent agree that elder abuse exists in society, even as only 16 per cent of elder women in Bengaluru admit that they have suffered some form of abuse in the hands of their sons, daughters-in-law and other relatives.”

“In Karnataka (barring Bengaluru), about 55 per cent of elderly women are engaged in some sort of employment, among the highest employment figures in the sixty to ninety-year-old age group in India. At least 98 per cent of Karnataka’s elder women (almost 100 per cent) say that their work place is pro-senior citizens and extremely supportive of them. About 58 per cent of women in the state say that they feel financially secure due to support from their family members,” the survey said.

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Rohit Prasad, CEO of HelpAge India, said, “It is a stark reality that women, as they become older, tend to become neglected and are often invisible. Women aged 60 plus comprised 11 per cent of the total women population (7 crore of 66 crore) in 2021 and it will become 14 per cent by 2031 (10 crore of 72 crore). Most are defined by the traditional roles they play in their families and communities, which are often taken for granted. Their needs are often overlooked and contributions go unrecognised. Some areas for urgent response are raising awareness about government welfare schemes, greater priority in pension, healthcare and economic participation programmes, special schemes for elderly women and recourse to redressal mechanisms for elder abuse.”