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Journalism of Courage
Entirley honourable are the intentions behind the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens8217; Bill, which the UPA plans to introduce shortly. It flags a growing concern in a country where traditional social systems for the care of the elderly 8212; the joint family is a good example 8212; are getting rapidly eroded. But filial obligations cannot be secured through legislative fiat. The welfare of the aged should rest on rather more firmer foundations than the mere possibility of taking an errant son or daughter to a tribunal.
We are still a 8216;young8217; society, with 32 per cent of our population below the age of 15. But this demographic advantage will not be with us for very long. Today 5.2 per cent of our population is over 65 years of age. By 2015, this would have risen to 6.2 per cent 8212; a huge number in absolute terms. It may be rewarding therefore to study the systems that countries at present grappling with greying societies, like Germany and Japan, have put in place. Germany was one of the first nations in the world to design a nursing care insurance, with earning members contributing to the fund in order to avail themselves of healthcare in their non-productive years. There are, besides, ways other than punitive measures to get children to bear the responsibilities of parental care. Rewarding them through tax breaks and other measures may, in fact, prove more effective 8212; and without triggering an avalanche of court cases.
India, still grappling with pension reform, has not even begun to think of a viable social security regime for its elderly. It needs to evolve a bouquet of viable financial instruments and welfare interventions to address a complex issue that touches every life. Passing a bill long on good intent and short on efficacy would amount to passing the buck.
