CENTRE FOR GERONTOLOGICAL STUDIES Thiruvananthapuram, had organised a National Consultation on Empowerment of Older Women from 21to23, March 2011, to invite suggestions to the Review Committee of National Policy on Older Persons. At the initiative of Chairman of CGS Dr. P.K.B. Nayar, more than 100 Eminent Research Scholars, mainly from academic field, participated on invitation. Jnanajyothi was represented by President, Smt. S.K.Padma and Smt. Sunanda Vishwanatha Rao.

Technical sessions dealt with health issues and social well being of older women with Presentations, Group Discussions and Recommendations.

In India there are several economic empowerment programmes for young women but none for old women. Except for higher exemption on IT and concession in railways, they have been totally marginalised and sidelined.

Sri M.R. Rangaswamy

There are no concerted efforts specifically addressed to older women in the NPOP. Both men and women face discrimination due to old age, but women experience ageing differently. Good health, economic security and adequate housing are essential for ageing with dignity, but older women face difficulties in accessing them on par with men. They suffer more due to poverty and deprivation of basic needs. Health- care ( chronic diseases like osteoporosis, cervical cancer and post-menopausal conditions ), economics ( laws of inheritance to property heavily loaded against women ), social ( elder abuse ) and cultural ( deprivations imposed ) affect women to greater extent making their lives more miserable. About 63 % women above 60 years and 84% above 80 years, are widows who suffer a lot in silence from exclusion, poverty and humiliation. The nuclear family concept and migration to metros and abroad make children find a safety valve in an old age home for their unacceptable parents and parents have no other choice.

In a nutshell, old women differ fundamentally from old men and hence their problems have to be approached from an altogether different perspective as a sub-plan within the broad policy on ageing gracefully.

Justice D. Sreedevi, Chairperson, Kerala Women's Commission, who inaugurated the seminar highlighted how the present day generation has conveniently forgotten the sacrifices made by the older generation.

- M.R. Rangaswamy
(Tel : 26714434 Mob : 9972331947
Email : rangaswamymr36@gmail.com)

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