Old age and social security measures.

Old Age and Social Security Measures

The advancement of new technology, life saving drugs, better knowledge of health and nutrition, and effective treatment of diseases have increased the life expectancy. There has been a significant decline in the mortality and total fertility rate. Also we find significant increase in longevity. All these factors will inevitably result in the increase in the number of senior citizens. The data show that there are about 6% elder citizens in the world. In Nepal 5% of the total population are elders aged above 60 years of age. This is on a constant rise as it is one of the most dramatic, complex and rapidly changing events of the twentieth century in the revolution of longevity, or length of life. The increase in the numbers and proportions of the aging is accompanied by a change in the population's age structure. A declining proportion of children in a population increases the proportion of older persons. The age structure of any country affects in one way or another in the social, economic, political, and religious and many more other areas.

Only in the past few decades has the attention of national societies and the world community been drawn to the social, economic, political and scientific questions raised by the phenomenon of aging on a massive scale. Aging is thus a global problem, not confined to any particular community or society. While the problem is global, there is no such thing as a global solution. Every communities, societies, and regions have their own traditions and customs with regard to the status and role of elders. Hence, the plans and policies to be developed by any country for its senior citizens should be tradition, religion, and culture friendly.

The Hindu traditions give a very prestigious position to father and mother (the elders).Manu in "the Laws of Manu" states that, " the trouble that a mother and father endure in giving birth to human beings cannot be redeemed even in a hundred years. He should constantly do what pleases the two of them, and always what pleases his teacher. When these three are satisfied, all inner heat is achieved." .mata (mother), Pita (father) and Guru (teacher) are the order of priority mentioned in Hindu scriptures. To look after the elders is regarded as a moral duty of the offspring. Traditionally, the elders also had the control over the resources, and people being involved in the intensive agriculture, joint family system was a common pattern of living. . But, with rapid changes taking place in the society, this insurance system adopted by our society for elders is under fire. Nepal is constantly moving towards industrialization, modernization, westernization, urbanization with revolutionary changes in the political system and in the socio-economic structure. Hence it is the need of the time to assess the condition of the aged and aging to the problems that attend the transformation. After the growth of economic activities away from home, the joint family system is slowly breaking down, either willingly or unwillingly. For example, the offspring who have a hard time and struggling to support their own children and family in the urban areas, it will be a big problem for them to look after parents at rural distant places. Also, their customary obligation to support parents will be pushed to periphery, even if they feel that it is their duty. The tradition old predominant criteria of kinship seniority, occupying power and leadership are slowly being discarded as criteria like education and special skills of achieved characteristics are being recognised. Old age is not itself a great problem, for there had always been old people in all societies. What turns aging into social problem is the adjustment process in the newly emerging economic, social and psychological changes that the industrial revolution brought about. As societies change so does the conditions and problems of the aged. Hence new and appropriate measures should be adopted by countries to cope with the changing time and situation. After the second world war, we are observing so many changes in the society that new methods are being applied to solve them. Hence, the problem of old age should also be looked in that context and appropriate social security measures should be applied in order to bring social justice to the old people also.

Social security measures

Commonly speaking, social security means that everyone is able to enjoy a standard of living much like that of the rest of the community and thus be able to feel a sense of participation and belonging to the community. The right of social security is one of the significant human rights set out in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948. Also, the social security for old aged people is one of the nine such areas included in the world assembly of International Labour Organization on June 28, 1952. ILO defines social security as, ...

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Social security measures

Since the dawn of human civilization, there have been social security measures for the disabled ones, either in the form of religion, culture, value system, belief or in any other forms accepted by the particular societies. After the origin of modern states and the industrial revolution, it has been the duty of the state to provide social security to its citizens. Social security and welfare aspect is an integral part of overall national development. A modern welfare state needs to bear duty and responsibility of social security in order to develop the socio-economic and other sectors of its citizens. The state ought to provide economic and social security to assure the right of socially, economically, psychologically, and physically vulnerable people for normal and dignified life. It should design appropriate structure and programme of social security within its own social and economic limitations. It is old people's social right to deserve security measures. It should not be taken as a matter of mercy and pity towards them. They in their early days in some form have already contributed for the country.

In many industrialized countries, professional assistance, financial aid, respite care and counseling services are being made available to families who are caring for infirm aging members. Tax incentives, allowances and housing subsidies are also given. Country such as China has been encouraging family support by legislation. At least one city has made adult children legally responsible for the support of their parents. Their families are given subsidies if they " adopt" and unrelated elderly person. Loans are provided for care-takers to build or remodel a house with an independent room for older parents and tax credits are given to those supporting persons aged 70 and over. In China, some elderly people have organized special universities to enroll elderly students.

Similarly in Singapore, the Ministry of Community Development organizes an annual Parent Education Programme which helps to strengthen the family and foster respect for parents. The program sought to encourage families to keep their elderly dependents within the family and in the community. The government also provides tax relief to households that are supportive of an elderly parent or grandparent.

Various pension schemes are found in developing countries of Asia. In the republic of Korea, the livelihood protection act of 1961 provided a legal basis for aid to people aged 65 as long as they had no sons and no way to support for themselves. In Hong Kong, there are two social security schemes directly related to the needs of the elderly: the public assistance scheme and the special needs allowance scheme. These forms of assistance provide assured income for the elderly and enable them to be better accepted within their families. Likewise, the Delhi Municipal Corporation in India grants old-age pensions to persons belonging to poor families. Senior citizens in some countries are benefited from cheap or free travel on public transport, free medical services, and reduced prices on tickets for theatres and other recreational areas.

In Nepal, late King Surendra Bir Bikram Shah had established an old age shelter house (bridhyashram) in the year 1927 B.S. But it turned out to be a place to keep the servants and workers of Rana Family later on. Then we find some legal provisions made in the civil code of 2020 B.S regarding old people and their security measures. Though there are incomplete legal provisions and old people face legal complications, some of the provisions will be cited here:

1. according to Clause 10(b) related to partition deeds, if any parents wish to live with a particular son or daughter, it must be mentioned in the partition deeds and such son or daughter must look after their parents keeping with them, and if the production of their won is not sufficient for subsistence, the aforesaid son or daughter must provide for them. In the absence of a son or daughter living together, other son or daughter living separately must provide them up to their standard and prestige. (but surprisingly it has not fixed the age limit)

2. in the Clause 8 related to poor and destitute, an old person has fifth position on priority set, while providing ration to and destitute. Likewise the clause 11 of Civil Code 2020 has made provisions for priority in making verdict in cases, i.e first priority to priosener , second to children and third to the old person.

Then the ministry of Labour and Social Welfare was established in 2032 B.S to expand welfare programs in the country. Except a few old age shelter houses in some districts, we do not find any significant programmes launched by the government. From the fiscal year 1995/96 AD some policies like assuring social security o helpless, old and weak citizens were incorporated. Its main aim was to maintain dignified human life; accepting social security as social investment. Monthly allowances of Rs. 100 (from fiscal year 1999/2000 increased to Rs.150) to people above 75 years and helpless widow above 60 years was made effective in practice. Demarcating 75 year as old age has been looked upon critically by many scholars as the life expectancy of Nepalese people is only 54.4.

The constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 in article 26(9) illustrates the need to protect the welfare rights of the old. It says, "the state shall pursue such policies in matters of education, health and social security of orphans, helpless women, the aged, the disabled and incapacitated persons as will ensure their protection and welfare." Accordingly , The present ninth plan ( 2054-59B.S) has taken the long term concept regarding old age as" the state will protect the rights of old, helpless and disabled citizens by providing essential service and facilities; and their valuable experience, skill, knowledge and capability will be mobilized for national development. The state will guarantee social and economic justice in these people."

Keeping in view of all these provisions, His Majesty's Government of Nepal has recently brought out a national level policy regarding senior citizens. Though it has already come out late, it should now not take a lot of time to implement it seriously. The thinking to bring out the separate plan for elders is itself a welcoming achievement and deserves a great significance in the Nepalese context too. The policy aims to provide social security measures to all old aged people and to utilize their skills, knowledge and experiences in the process of national development. The policy has classified old aged people into two groups. The first is the people aged between 65 and 75 as involvement group. The government hopes to utilize the skills, knowledge, and experiences of these old aged in the social and economic development of the country. The second category is the secured group aged above 75. Social security, prestige and welfare programmes will be provided to this group of people. Hence, for the first time 65 year is taken as the criteria to define old age. Earlier a national committee formed under the chairmanship of minister of Women and Social Welfare, to celebrate 1999 A.D as the " International Year of Older Persons" at the call of the United Nations had taken the age of 60 and above to be classified under "Old Aged Citizens". This demarcation of age to classify Older People seriously puts a question mark and needs to be further considered and researched in the present socio-economic, demographic and other relevant aspects of the Nepalese society.

Similarly, the national level old age policy 2058 has classified old people on the basis of economic status into three categories as:

1) Dependent

2) Those who have no economic base, and

3) Those who can live by their own resources

Hence, we can say that Nepal is also now slowly trying to give emphasis and priority to the growing problem of aged in the country. It should be noted that the capacity of the older individual to cope with disabilities common to older persons depends upon his educational level, lifelong styles of behaviour, and the supportive level of his present environment. Aging is thus jointly a psychological, biological and social problem. The position of the aged is thus dependent on a very complex combination of factors. One or another factor may be dominant in a given situation, but all of them have to be considered. Aging is a global problem, not confined to any particular society. While the problem is global, there is no such thing as a global solution. Communities have different traditions and customs with regard to the status and role of elders in society and particularly within the family. It is the need of the time to make a legal provision that not only gives right to sons to inherit their parents property but prescribe their duty to look after and provide help for their parents with proper respect and love. Taking the elderly out of the family and admitting them to a home for the aged is not always a positive and constructive solution. Isolating from their own kin and kith may prove to be an emotional shock for many elderly members. Social welfare policies adopted in some western countries might not necessarily be suitable for the elderly of Nepal. The socio-economic, political, demographic and family structure should be considered before formulating any plans and policies. It will be beneficial to exchange knowledge and experiences with those countries where social and family structures have many similarities to Nepal. Since the older people have wide experience, wisdom and expertise, they should be involved in as may social and cultural activities as possible in order to promote productive ageing. The state has to reinforce the message of the older persons as assets and not merely as dependents. Government should formulate policies to encourage families to take care of older people through provisions such as subsidies in basic services and tax exemption to the families who look after the aged parents. Also there should be social training for younger members of the family to take care of older people in the homely environment as the best solution to overcome old age problem would be to integrate old people within their own families. Building old age homes will be logistic solution only for the isolated and neglected elder citizens. Elderly need love, affection and sentiment from their closest ones.

Ramraj Gautam

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