Shame to Nation: Senior Citizen 77-year-old raped in Delhi as cops pass buck

One more Senior Citizen raped in national capital New Delhi !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whats happening more and more crime against elderly women on rise.Its Elder Abuse,there is no excuse for this. Government , Police and Civil Society - we all are responsible fro not able to stop this , we need to change our mindset. Human Right Activist , National Commission on Women , People working with Elders and women all should come together and STOP growing incidence of crime against elderly women and Senior Citizens all over the country ,specially in Urban area. The guilty to be punished and police personnel be booked for the crime in their area. This elderly women needs to be give psycho social care also. How can we tolerate this !!!!!!!!


A 77-year-old woman was allegedly raped and beaten by an unidentified rickshawpuller in Rohini, northwest Delhi, for over eight hours on Friday even as three police stations passed the buck, saying the crime did not fall within their jurisdiction.

Family members of the victim claimed that they visited the sector 7 police station -- as she was last seen in that area -- the K N Katju police station -- where the victim's family lives and where the rickshaw was headed -- and the Prashant Vihar police station, where the family was directed by the police. But they were given the run-around even after the victim had been missing for several hours.

"We hunted for her on our own till 2.30am. If the police had helped, she would have been found as the assailant was camping minutes away from the police station. Perhaps he would have been even caught and she wouldn`t have to go through the trauma that she did," said the victim's son.

The victim was finally found bruised, beaten and sexually assaulted barely 200 metres from K N Katju Marg police station at 6.30am on Saturday morning. A case of voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation, rape and causing hurt by means of poison with intent to commit offence was finally registered at the station only at 1.40pm.

The victim was rushed to Ambedkar Hospital in a critical condition after she was found by some locals who helped her reach home on Saturday morning. She is currently in the intensive care unit.

She was returning to her residence in Sector 15, Rohini, from her sister`s house in Sector 7 when the incident took place. Her sister had helped her hail the rickshaw around 6.30pm. Speaking to TOI, the victim recounted, "I got into the rickshaw and paid the man Rs 25. However, the moment my sister went inside, the rickshawpuller demanded more money and I even agreed to that. But while engaging me in conversation, he forced a handkerchief on my nose after which I lost consciousness. When I regained consciousness, I realized that he had taken me somewhere else. I begged him to let me go and take my cash and jewellery instead but he dragged me by the hair to a deserted spot and punched me several times and then attempted to rape me. I am an old woman and he got frustrated and beat me again."

The unidentified assailant allegedly had taken her to a deserted plot near Japanese Park, near the K N Katju police station. The victim`s son explained, "She told us that she had lost count as to how many times she had been beaten up and how many times he attempted to rape her. The assailant did not take away the gold bangles and diamond earrings that she was wearing even though she threw the money she had with her, hoping he would leave her alone. She told us that he beat her every time she came to her senses and she would lose consciousness again. He allegedly remained with her till about 2.30am and even told her around 2am that some men had come looking for her when we were searching for her in the vicinity."

The victim claimed that the assailant finally placed stones on her chest and hit her repeatedly. "Around 2.30am he tried to kill me and I lost consciousness. I came to my senses again at 6.30am and called out to a labourer who had come to relieve himself nearby. He helped me back home in an autorickshaw," explained the victim.

"We had gone to one of the police stations to lodge a missing complaint for her when we were told that she had returned home. We rushed her to the hospital," explained a relative. Meanwhile, the medical superintendent of the hospital Dr. BN Aggarwal said, "The patient is still under observation and besides her physical injuries she was extremely mentally disturbed as well when she was admitted. We will give a formal medical report on Monday."

A senior police official said they had rounded up around 100 rickshaw pullers and were questioning them.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/77-year-old-raped-as-cops-pass-buck/articleshow/7696706.cms

Poverty and Loneliness pushing Elderly Japanese towards crime

The elderly in Japan are turning to petty crime, including shoplifting and pick-pocketing, to help make ends meet, the nation's Justice Ministry said.

A government report found that last year, 48,605 Japanese persons age 65 and older were arrested in crimes other than traffic violations, which is more than double the number five years earlier, CNN reported Wednesday.

"The main reasons they shoplift are poverty and loneliness," said Kazuo Kawakami, a former federal prosecutor. "The traditional Japanese family is gone, and now our elderly live alone."

Japan's economy lapsed into recession this year, and at the same time, the nation's pension system has been beset by corruption, leaving many pensioners worrying about their future.

CNN said on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, more elderly than youths -- by a 3 to 2 ratio -- were arrested in 2006.


Source: United Press International,Dec 2008

“There is a need to raise financial awareness among senior citizens”

In an interaction with NGOs working for senior citizens, Susan B Somers, General Secretary of the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) highlighted financial issues prevalent in the US and how they have been dealt with Moneylife Digital team

Susan B Somers, General Secretary of the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, Inc (INPEA) highlighted some financial issues that the elderly face in an interaction with other NGOs working for senior citizens. The interaction was organised by Silver Inning Foundation and Moneylife Foundation on Mon 3^rd May 2010 in Mumbai, India.

“There is a need to raise financial awareness among senior citizens, especially women. They do not understand wills, tax issues and transfers. This leaves them completely vulnerable to financial issues,” said Somers who is also United Nations NGO Coordinator for INPEA. She is associated with the Somers Law Firm, New York.

Highlighting instances of financial exploitation in the United States, she said, “There have been various cases of financial exploitation of the elderly like fraudulent selling of expensive security systems under the pretext of safety or charging exorbitant fees for simple day-to-day jobs like repairing a car.”

Among other financial exploitation cases were repeated mis-selling of insurance policies to the elderly. “There were insurance agents or brokers, who convinced the elderly to flip their current insurance policy with another one, stating that the existing was no more useful to them. In reality, every time the elderly person changed his insurance policy the broker earned a commission. It was in the benefit of the broker and the not the elderly person,” stated Ms Somers.

While the elderly are highly susceptible and gullible to financial exploitation at the hands of their own family members and relatives, certain groups also reportedly took advantage of the same. “There was a rampant selling of living trusts which promised wealth protection for the elderly from the Government, from paying taxes, from family and relatives. This was in the form of a document. They charged a huge amount of fees for this document. Most times, one did not even need such a protection,” Ms Somers said.

On being asked on what steps have been taken or should be taken to address such issues which are equally applicable to Indian senior citizens, she said, “The government should issue information. To take reverse mortgage as an example, the government should provide information stating these are the good points about the product and these are the bad points of the product, this helps the senior citizen take an informed decision.”

“Another significant step taken in the US was a law stating a cooling-in period of three days. If the seller or agent approaches the elderly, he cannot be forced to sign or agree to buy the product or service right away, a cooling-in period of three days has to be practised. This avoids the elderly from taking any hasty decision while under pressure,” she added.

Source: http://www.moneylife.in/article/8/5177.html

RBI clamps down on banks delaying pension payout

In what could be a major victory for government pensioners awaiting pension payments, the country’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has taken bankers to task for ‘inordinate delays’ in disbursing revised pension and arrears.

Taking a serious view of the matter, the RBI has issued a circular (dated 9 April 2010) to various banks with an exasperated tone, directing the concerned banks to ensure that all entitled pensioners are paid their revised pension or arrears within 15 days from receipt of the circular. Additionally, it has also advised the banks to make a penal interest payment of 2% for any delay beyond the due date.

The RBI was forced to take this tough stand after receiving several complaints from pensioners, especially State government pensioners, alleging inordinate delay in disbursing the revised pension and arrears. Under the 6th Pay Commission recommendations, RBI had advised pension-paying banks to put in place a suitable mechanism so that pensioners could get the benefits announced by the government in the succeeding month’s pension payment itself. The controlling offices or head offices of agency banks were also advised to closely monitor and supervise the timely and accurate disbursement of pension to the pensioners.

An RBI review of the pension payment systems in various agency banks revealed the true story behind the picture. The circular highlights RBI’s findings as follows:
“Even though Pension Relief Orders were issued by the respective State Governments, there is inordinate delay ranging from one month to 18 months at the Agency Bank level in disbursing the revised pension as also the pension arrears. The delay was more pronounced in the case of those State Govt pensioners residing outside their States drawing pension from Agency Bank branches. To be specific, non-State resident pensioners have not received adequate attention and timely receipt of the revised pension/arrears for months together.”

The circular goes on to highlight the discrepancies of banks in administering the pension payouts. “Our experience was that customer service on pension payment matters was not effective at the branch level where customers normally interface with the front office,” said the central bank’s communiqué.

The RBI also makes note of the lack of coordination between the branches and the Central Pension Processing Centres, as also the absence of transparency in the calculation of the revised pension or arrears.

In a tone that is vividly indignant, the RBI questions the concerned banks’ indiscretions. “Pension payment is an agency function entrusted to you for a commission @ Rs60 per transaction and an amount of Rs487 crore has been paid to Agency Banks on account of pension disbursements alone during the year 2008-09. Although this is a significant income generating activity, it appears that it is still not given the due importance that it deserves.”

In view of the above, the RBI has advised banks to undertake review of the system of attending to customer service and have a pension accounts guide at all branches to assist the pensioners in all their dealings with the bank. Additionally, RBI has demanded that suitable arrangements be made, to place on the bank website details about the pension calculations, and made available to the pensioners at periodic intervals with sufficient advertisements to that effect.

With the RBI finally wisening up to the reality and putting its foot down squarely on the Agency banks, they will have to take a deeper look at their archaic systems and make life easier for pensioners. As the RBI rightly puts it, “Pension is the lifeline of the pensioners and any delay in affording their legitimate dues will rob them of the dignity of life to which they are entitled to”.



SBI is the source of RBI’s wrath on delayed pension payments

Moneylife had revealed in above article that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reprimanded pension-paying banks for delaying payments to pensioners and directed them to make good the dues immediately, along with penal interest.

It turns out that the reason RBI woke up is that a complaint was forwarded by a former highly-placed government officer to the deputy governor of the central bank, outlining the shoddy service given by the country’s largest lender, State Bank of India (SBI), in the form of extensive delays in pension payments.

This former officer had apparently been kept waiting unsuccessfully for ten months to receive his revised pension under the Sixth Pay Commission. This complaint forced the RBI to take a deeper look at the systems put in place by SBI for pension payments. A joint team drawn from both RBI and SBI investigated the matter and found various discrepancies in the way things were being administered.

The Investigation Report finds that apart from the complainant, there were at least 1,800 non-state resident pensioners who were denied the revised pension payment for months together. Taking a serious view of the matter, the RBI has put in a strongly worded letter to the chairman of the bank questioning the lack of customer sensibility despite being a premier bank in the public domain. It has pointed to the absence of an effective system of customer service at the branch level where pensioners normally interface with the front office.

This also forced the RBI to inspect the system at other Agency Banks making pension payments. The findings were more or less the same across all Agency Banks.

In view of the above, the RBI has advised these banks, including SBI, to undertake review of the system of attending to customer service and have a pension accounts guide at all branches to assist the pensioners in all their dealings with the bank. Additionally, the RBI has demanded that suitable arrangements be made, to place on the bank website details about the pension calculations, and made available to the pensioners at periodic intervals with sufficient advertisements to that effect.

As with the other banks, RBI has demanded that SBI make the payment of the revised pension and arrears within 15 days from the date of receipt of its communication to that effect. Additionally, it has also advised the bank to make a penal interest payment of 2% for any delay beyond the due date, which is to be credited to the pensioner’s account automatically without any claim from the pensioner on the same day when the bank affords the credit for revised pension or arrears.


Source: http://www.moneylife.in/article/8/4969.html

Released: National Online Survey Report of Senior Citizens, India 2010

On 24th April ‘National Online Survey Report’ for review of NPOP and views of Senior Citizens was submitted to MOSJE Shri Mukul Wasnik by Sailesh Mishra at Bangalore at Inauguration function of Nightingale Center for Ageing & Dementia. The Minister assured that he will look into the matter.

On 8th Dec 2009 the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment (MOSJE), Shri Mukul Wasnik informed about Review of NPOP at National Dementia Strategy, New Delhi.

NPOP was formulated in 1999, but till date it has not been implemented by Central Govt / Pan India, due to various reasons including lack of political will. Various NGO's and activists have been advocating its implementation and review.

During these 10 years the world has changed, there has been significant demography change in India's population due globalization and improved medical facility and lifestyle. The fall of joint family system and rise in nuclear family system has brought new dimension to the care and welfare of Elderly. The population of aged people above 60 yrs as on 2009 is estimated at 90 million, i.e. around 8% of total population. According to UN the population of 60+ in 2050 will be around 20%.Life expectancy has increased 60% in last 60 years from 42yrs in 1950 to 69yrs in 2009.There is sharp increase in population of Young Old 60yrs to 69 yrs and Old old 80+. Due to this demand and needs of various age groups have changed. Now it is time for civil society and government to rethink their strategy to address the needs of Senior Citizens.

This survey was jointly conducted by Silver Innings Foundation and Society for Serving Seniors to assess the requirement and need of Senior Citizens from 19^th March 2010 to 15^th April 2010. It was hosted on the Survey Site www.questionpro.com at the link: http://questionpro.com/t/ADwMaZHLEV

The questionnaire was online for about a month. Wide publicity was given to this survey in a large number of web groups, blogs, websites and by email to Senior Citizens associations, Federations etc.

Some brief points of Report:

Top 5 Needs of Senior Citizens:

1) There is a need for Fast Track Courts exclusively for Senior Citizens : 82.30%

2) Old Age Pension must reach all deserving persons : 81.86%

3) Separate Medicare policy must be available for older persons : 80.53%

4) Senior Citizen must be defined as one who is 60 plus : 79.20 %

5) A National Level Elder Helpline (Four digit Code) must be set up : 77.88%

Top 5 issues of Senior Citizens:

1) Health & Medical Care

2) Accommodation & Shelter

3) Food & Nutrition

4) Psychological Needs

5) Insurance

Some important Demands:

1. Affordable health insurance for senior citizens

2. Alzheimer’s must be included in the mentally ill disabled group in the census

3. Social Security Scheme for the Elders

4. A separate ministry for elderly persons

5. Life Long learning opportunity

6. Palliative care should be supported

7. Training of care givers

8. Inflation indexed interest for all savings instruments

9. The 80 Plus should be treated as a separate category for special assistance.

10. Separate plans for young old , old old and very old

11. Include comprehensive policy for Dementia in NPOP

12. Rural Elders should get special attention

13. Nodal agency to take care of the problems of senior citizens

14. R & D to be encouraged for different issues of Elderly

Read in Detail - ‘National Online Survey for Review of NPOP’ :http://www.karmayog.org/nonprofits/redirect/strred.asp?docId=3529

Financial issues of Senior Citizens and Recommendations

The financial dilemma is common among senior citizens who are usually relegated to an abject position of economic inactivity. Lack or absence of financial capacity creates a stressful life and invites the entry of problems other than physical and mental health issues. For instance, domestic problems in an extended family system can aggravate the problem of a financially-destitute senior citizen. Should any of the children be wallowing in a similar state of poverty, the senior citizen becomes physically and mentally loaded up with intense and continuing pressure out of being totally helpless to come to the financial rescue a grieving son or daughter.

While it may not be the panacea to aging-related problems, the value of money cannot be overstated in the post-retirement period. A financially-handicapped senior citizen, afflicted with some degenerative or serious illness, is practically on the road to an early death.

A financially secure senior citizen with the same illness, however, may have a longer life to live because money can give quick and convenient access to life-giving remedies. Even with state-of-mind dysfunctions like severe depression, boredom, nervous breakdown, and self-pity, financial capacity can buy options to rejuvenate and refresh a financially-capable senior citizen, through travels, elderly recreation, social renewal, and continuing education. A poor senior citizen in the same state of mental degradation cannot afford to do the same; and more so, be back into the mainstream of society.

Financial hardships can be avoided if the senior citizen, during his or her period of economic activity and utility, had deliberately exercised foresight, focus, continuous learning, perseverance, and simplicity, a discipline that consistently upholds the importance of modest needs, savings, productivity, competence, and delivering superior value to people and organizations. The idea here is to build a sustainable wealth of lifetime resources to address the financial requirements of the person across the twilight zone.

Financial Exploitation and Senior Citizens

Financial abuse and material exploitation of the elderly may not cause physical injuries or leave scars, but they can have devastating effects and ruin the lives of victims. An elder’s entire life savings can disappear, leaving the victim unable to provide for his or her own needs and causing harmful stress and agitation.

Financial elder abuse and material exploitation occur when an abuser uses an elder’s money or assets in a manner contrary to elder’s wishes, needs, or best interests, or for the abuser’s personal gain. Oftentimes, elderly victims are exploited because of vulnerabilities associated with advanced age, such as impaired mental capacity. Abusers can be caregivers in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, professionals hired by the elder (such as accountants), strangers, or family members.

Financial elder abuse can take many forms. The abuser may steal money or items from the elder’s bank account or home, sell or transfer property against the elder’s wishes, use the elder’s credit cards for unauthorized purchases, use the elder’s name to open new credit accounts, and create or alter a living trust or will for the abuser’s benefit. Financial elder abuse also can take the form of telemarketing fraud, identity theft, predatory lending, home improvement scams, and estate planning scams.

Unexplained behavioral changes, such as sudden secrecy or reluctance to speak freely, may be warning signs of financial elder abuse. If an elder appears withdrawn, helpless, frightened, or angry, this may also indicate that abuse is taking place.

Factors which make elders susceptible to financial abuse include isolation, loneliness, physical and/or mental disabilities, and lack of familiarity with financial issues. Elder financial exploitation often goes unreported. The senior may be unaware that exploitation is taking place or remain silent due to intimidation by the abuser. The elder victim may also be embarrassed about the situation or worried that making accusations will cause him or her to be labeled senile or too demanding.

Financial abuse perpetrated against a senior may include:

· Misusing or stealing assets, property or money.

· Cashing cheques without their authorization, forging a signature for any reason

· Misusing a power of attorney.

· Pressuring a senior into making changes to their will.

· Pressuring a senior into signing legal documents when they do not understand what it is.

· Sharing a home with the senior without paying expenses when requested.

· Transfer of Property : SRA schemes

· Forced / Forged Gift Deed

Problem:

· Uniform Age: Senior Citizen must be defined as one who is 60 plus

· Mobility problem

• Signatures on checks and documents that do not match

· TDS for retired elderly : why Elderly need to pay numerous TDS

· Numerous deduction by banks and financial institute in name of service: ATM withdrawal, number of chq book , number of transaction , minimum balance , account statement , renewal of credit card / debit card

· Single window policy, people have to run for pillar to post

· Medico legal problem: like person suffering from Dementia

· NPS: encourage more saving / participant for young people

· Reverse Mortgage: more clarity on interest rates and process should be single window

· Post office financial instrument should be made more attractive and efficient

· Grievance for UTI / LIC / NSE / Mutual funds

Recommendation for Govt:

· Immediate implementation of Senior Citizens Maintenance Act 2007

· Implementation of NPOP

· GOI should consider all stakeholders while revision of NPOP

· NPOP should consider different needs of different age groups : Young Old , Old old and Very Old

· Action on BC’s / Chit Funds / Plantation / Plots – Fraud schemes

· Cyber Crime protection

· Fast Track court

· Indira Gandhi Pension Scheme increase premium

· Aarogyasri Healthcare Insurance Scheme for BPL / APL

· Concept of Universal Coverage: irrespective of age, health conditions or claims history must be covered under the Scheme

· Renewal must be automatic, without any limit of upper age

· Cashless Service must

· More Public Pvt Partnership

· Property transfer safeguards

· Ethical Will concept

· Advance Directive – Will: Advance directives are a way of making your voice heard when you can no longer speak. They allow you to appoint someone to make your health care decisions for you when you no longer can and to administer or withhold treatment and procedures.

· Special Elder abuse Law

· Non Bailable Elder Abuse Law

· Property tax rebate

· There should be a mentoring Agency for Old Age Homes and Retirement Communities

· A National Level Elder Helpline (Four digit Code) must be set up

· Elders’ Right similar to Child Rights must be recognized

· National Elders Commission (similar to National Women’s Commission) must be set up

· Separate Ministry for Senior Citizens Welfare is necessary

· Intra Ministry work

· National Association/ Federation of Older Persons must be identified and established

· Separate and adequate funds must be allotted for Senior Citizens Welfare

· Both States and Central Govt must allocate funds for senior welfare

· Old Age Pension must reach all deserving persons

· Tax concessions must be given to care givers and those who take care of elders

· Separate Medicare policy must be available for older persons.

· Geriatrics and gerontology must be taught in MBBS, PG, Nursing, MSW, etc

· Special attention must be paid for training Bed side Assistants

· There must be geriatric wards in District Hospitals

· There must be Day Care Centres in every municipality

· There must be Old Age Homes for destitute in every Municipality

· There must be Day care centres for Dementia patients

· Pension and Gratuity amount can’t be gifted to any one for minimum 5 yrs of receipt

· Post office can be made central point of all govt related financial schemes

· Annapurna / Meal at doors / Mid day meals

· Legal AID Cell in all Law college / District courts

Recommendation for Civil Society:

· Micro Finance: as SHG for women

· Training / Sensitization of professionals: legal, medical, police, govt. Servants etc

· Financial clinic

· Legal clinic

· Empowering common man about Financial Rights

· Pre Retirement workshop: Financial planning for young

· Encourage more Hobbies and skill

· Formation of Vigilance Committee for Elder Abuse in our communities

· Joint / United forum of organization – NGO’s and other stake holders

· Mapping of services for elderly in each municipality/ district

These were some important points for discussion by Silver Inning Foundation for Moneylife Foundation brain storming session on financial issues of Elderly in India.

Sailesh Mishra

Founder President

Silver Inning Foundation

sailesh2000@gmail.com

www.silverinnings.com