One-fifth of India's elderly abused at home

More than one-fifth of the elderly across India — 23% — said they experienced abuse, a survey by NGO Help Age India has revealed. The findings were part of Help Age India’s report ‘Elder Abuse in India 2013’ released on Friday, on the eve of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on Saturday.

More than one-fifth of the elderly across India — 23% — said they experienced abuse, a survey by NGO Help Age India has revealed.

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But the good thing is: It is significantly lower from a similar survey in 2012 that showed 31% of senior citizens had reported abuse — disrespect, verbal abuse, neglect and beating/slapping.

The findings were part of Help Age India’s report ‘Elder Abuse in India 2013’ released on Friday, on the eve of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on Saturday.

In Delhi, 20% respondents said they had personal experience of abuse, down from 30% in 2012. While nationally, daughters-in- law were the primary perpetrators of abuse (39%) followed by sons (38%), in Delhi, it was the son who was the main perpetrator of abuse (34%), followed by daughters-in-law (24%).

However, in tier-II cities, a disturbing f"act emerged that 17% respondents faced abuse at the hands of their daughters.

The "2013 survey was conducted in 24 cities across 20 states involving 6,548 respondents above 60 years of age. India has an estimated 100 million senior citizens and their number is expected to increase to 315 million by 2050.