Maharashtra governor K. Sankaranarayanan on Sunday came up with a piece of advice for all senior citizens, saying that they should hold on to their life savings instead of giving it away to their children. He added that instead, giving them an education should be the topmost priority.
Mr Sankaranarayanan was speaking at the 44th annual function of Swajan, an NGO that works for the welfare of retired government officials, where he said, “Senior citizens must not hand down their life’s savings to their children.”
The governor expressed his concern about senior citizens and said that parents’ responsibility should be to make sure that they strive for the best education for their children. He added that they should, however, save their life savings for themselves, which will see them through their retired life. Speaking about the increasing population of senior citizens, he said, “The senior citizens, the elderly need to be paid more attention than ever before.”
Mr Sankaranarayanan observed that the tradition of respecting our elders is deeply rooted in Indian family values and culture. However, he lamented that it is eroding swiftly owing to the breaking apart of the joint family tradition and the beginning of the nuclear family concept.
He also talked about growing reports of abuse and neglect of elders, often by their own children and relatives.
He said, “I personally know of families who have forced their parents and elders in the family to live in outhouses and car shades while they lived in comfort.”
The governor emphasised the need for more NGOs to work for the welfare of senior citizens and provide them with social security, well-equipped old age homes, day care centres and mobile medical units.
As a part of the event, the governor also felicitated former director of police A.N. Roy. Chairman of Swajan and former municipal commissioner of Mumbai Karun Chandra Srivastava also addressed the audience.