Senior citizens are an asset both to the country and to the family as their experience in certain matters is a boon to the younger generation. Further, their sweet memories of the college and university days are a treat to the ears. Every hour spent with the elderly, provides knowledge worth a book. With the corporatisation of medicare in India, many families are feeling the burden of the old. Why not the government give income tax relief to families taking care of senior citizens? Like the Railways, other organisations can extend liberal benefits to senior citizens. It is high time the government came out with a policy for the benefit of the veterans.
V.V.V. Satyanarayana,
Tanuku
Mr. Ramachandran's article (Open Page, Aug. 1) has many interesting points. However, it misses the major problem confronted by the retired people. They miss the social circle and the status of the position they held. Unfortunately, people are valued not for their qualities but the positions they held. It becomes, therefore, necessary for retiring people to invent a new social circle in society. It may not be possible for everyone to get suitably re-employed. But it is possible to plan and work for a new activity. There are many options but the best avenues are in social service, religion, arts, music, education, writing, consumer rights and counselling. In fact, there are many who have made a successful ‘second innings' in an altogether different sphere.
Nisha Gopalan,
Chennai
Aged people should not be left to fend for themselves under any circumstances by their wards, the society and the state, who have the moral obligation to provide the needed care and sustained support to help them to lead a life of dignity. It should be understood that diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, known for their crippling effect on the cognitive and physical ability of the aged, cannot be tackled without the support of caregivers.
M. Jeyaram,
Singapore
Ageing is a natural process over which we do not have any control. But there are two things that haunt every individual, especially the elderly: their fear of death and the thoughts of their younger days. Old age is not a curse. It is an opportunity to share views and experiences with others. In every mode of our life we commit mistakes for which we lament at leisure. There is no person on earth who is all-perfect. We have to meet failures in order to succeed. Many a time the thought of failures and misfortunes haunt our minds in our old age. The elderly should shed such thoughts and try to live in the present. They should try to equip themselves to live with the younger generation by learning skills involving the computer and the Internet. By appreciating their youthful way of living you can rejuvenate yourself.
V. Anand Kumar,
Chennai
I, a senior citizen, lost my wife 13 years ago. Since then I have been living alone in my own flat. I spend my time in spiritual activities. This gives me the pleasure of independence and a contented life which overshadows my loneliness. Occasionally, I go to my sons' places to stay for a short period. This gets me more respect and affection. The reason for my satisfied life is the pension I earn. In contrast, I have a friend who retired from a private company, and lives with his family members, after having spent all his earnings on his family. He is humiliated and neglected. So, it is clear that senior citizens are truly valued only if they are financially sound.
D. Sethuraman,
Chennai
