Audio podcast: Neglected and abused, but India’s elders can change their reality


Ashraf Engineer

November 4, 2020

More than 71% of senior citizens in India say they face harassment or humiliation by their own family members, relatives or children, according to a study by Agewell Foundation last year. The same NGO found 71% of seniors saying cases of abuse and neglect have risen during the lockdown and 69% felt their lives have been impacted adversely by the lockdown in ways such as being forced to live in isolation.

Sailesh Mishra is a highly regarded social activist working for the welfare of senior citizens and who’s part of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s working group  formulating a national policy for elders. He speaks to All Indians Matter about the neglect and abuse of elders, how they can prevent and deal with it, the role of society and the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on elders.