“DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal and two other members were appalled to discover several shortcomings in the operation and management of the government-run old-age home and a notice is being issued to secretary, Social Welfare, in this regard,” said a senior DCW official.
The facility houses a total of 72 inmates, of which 54 are women and 18 men.
There is an acute shortage of staff and the chairperson was “appalled” to note that mentally-ill women were being kept in one hall with minimal facilities, he added. Besides, these women are not provided with proper care. The official said the condition of sanitation was “extremely poor” as a nauseating odor was sensed during the visit. The home also lacks CCTV cameras, thereby raising a serious security concern.
Inmates complained about poor food quality and lack of cold drinking water. There is no water connection and the need is being met through a single tanker.
Elderly women living there told the chairperson and other members about the need for employment generation activities so that they could use their time constructively.
Besides issuing the notice, the Commission will make detailed recommendations to the Delhi government for improving conditions of old-age homes in the Capital, he added.
Explaining the condition of the old-age home in Delhi, Sarvesh Bhalla, who works with the facility in Bindapur, said “Old age is that phase of life, where one needs maximum attention and care. Not just physical support but emotional support too is extremely important. Unfortunately, the condition of elderly people is extremely pathetic across India. And the country’s capital is on top of the list, where most senior citizens live in the worst conditions.”
According to a survey carried out by a Delhi-based private institute, Delhi tops the list with 92 per cent of youth who are not interested to act on the issue, followed by Chennai (64 per cent), Hyderabad (45 per cent), Ahmedabad (41 per cent), Bengaluru (37 per cent) and Mumbai (35 per cent). The survey was carried out in 200 households, selected from 20 middle and upper class localities in 10 cities.
In July last, 35 people died in an old-age home in Vasant Kunj. The report points out startling facts on how family members are solely responsible
for the miserable condition of the elderly.