The Senior Citizens of India: Laws, Rights, and Welfare

The following research paper aims to put forward the issues, rights, and laws related to the elder population of our country i.e. the citizens who are above the age of sixty. One might wonder who exactly is considered a senior citizen in India. Well, The word or terminology “senior citizen’’ refers to any individual who has aged beyond the age of sixty years, simply they can be either sixty or above sixty. People sometimes consider this term derogatory or patronizing however in a workplace this term generally means someone with a lot of work experience or someone knowledgeable. However, the term “elderly” may refer to someone who is at an advanced stage in the life of someone whose health has become fragile or is considered to be dependent on someone for their daily activities. These elderly constitute a major chunk of our population but are often left out and ignored. This research paper talks about the major issues faced by the elders, the various forms of abuse faced by them and the reasons behind these issues, and the remedies. It also discusses the role of gender and how gender can be an important distinctive factor. It also explores the various laws and policies enacted by the government in order to bring about a change, and also how these laws work and their various aims and purposes.