Delhi’s elderly seek more security

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Elderly citizens of the city Tuesday demanded more security for themselves during an interaction with senior government officials and NGOs to mark the sixth edition of the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) observed annually June 15.

At the event, organised by NGO International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA), many of the elderly participants said they did not feel secure in the city.

“Nowadays the number of senior citizens living alone is on the rise and so is the rate of crime against us. We desire more security from the police,” said S.L. Passi, president, Delhi Federation of Association of Senior Citizens.

“I know police personnel are overworked but they need to put us in their top priorities too. They are too pre-occupied with other activities, especially protecting the VIPs,” he added.

“The government every year launches several schemes for us but none of them are implemented properly. That is why you see senior citizens are becoming soft targets for criminals,” said K. Kamal Khursheed, a 74-year-old from Lajpat Nagar.

Additional Commissioner of police and in charge of senior citizens cell Sandeep Goel said: “There are many aspects of issues that involve the elderly and security is one of them.”

Goel made a presentation on safety of senior citizens and explained in detail what steps the elderly could take on their part to drastically reduce incidents of crime against them.

Chairperson of INPEA (Asia) Mala Kapur Shankardass said: “Observance of WEAAD brings recognition to elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue, which needs to be addressed by individuals, families, communities and governments.”

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