This workshop was organized jointly by Management LEADERSHIP Development Centre (MLDC) and ONGC Retired officers association, Dehradun.The whole day workshop was attended by about 200 Retired ONGC participants leaving in dehradun. This workshop had four session and three pause for lunch and tea. Since the day was dedicated to “INTERNATIONAL DAY OF OLDER PERSONS” the seminar was designed to focus on the various issues, challenges and practical problems faced by the retired people of the organization.

International Day of Older Persons Celebration 2010

• United Nations designated 1st .Oct of every year as the International Day of Older Persons

• Day is dedicated to honour, respect and care for the elderly people of the world

• Should be able to enjoy their remaining life in their own families and communities

• Should have a life of fulfillment, health, security and contentment

• Demographic Transition

• Globally, the population of the persons aged 60 is expected to double between 2000 and 2050 i.e. from 10% to 21%

• Population of children is projected to drop by one third i.e. from 30% to 21%

• Fastest growing group of the older population is the oldest old, that is, 80 year old and above

• Demographic Transition

• In 2000, the oldest old numbered 70 million

• Projected to increase to more than five times over the next 50 years

• In India number of persons 60+ rose from 12 million in 1901 to 20 million in 1951 and 57 million in 1991

• Projected that by 2013 the population of 60+ will cross 100 million in India

1st Session

This was an inaugural session which was chaired by Senior executive of ONGC, Dr. K.L GOYAL president (ONGC Retd. Officer’s Association). He addressed the gathering welcome address. Dr. JAUHARI LAL, president MLDC, addressed the gathering with the issues which retired people face on day today basis on health, finance and overall living standards. The session was concluded by closing remarks and vote of thanks by Mr. M.R.Singh, vice-president (ONGC Retd. Officer’s Association).
 

2nd Session

The second session was focused on “Health and well being – holistic approach to health”. In this session Dr. Mahesh Hemadri MBBS, Post Graduate Certificate in Hospital Management and Post Graduate Diploma in Geriatric Medicine from Global Hospital & Research Centre, Shantivan, Abu Road, Rajasthan, spoke and gave presentation on preventive and precautionary measures, hypertension and heart problems, diabetes, arthritis and osteoporosis, etc. In one of the presentation he gave detailed real life example of “Alzheimer disease” and different stages in which how patients condition gets worsened. The whole session gave an insight of old age mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well being. In the end there was a short relaxation and positive attitude building exercise where visualization was the key for better living.
Shri Yoga acharya Gulshan kumar demonstrated few yogic postures on how to over come prostrate and other diseases. Some asanas were also demonstrated for reducing weight, he made the participant do pranayama and benefits of deep breathing.

3rd Session

This session was focused on “Financial management and Legal – writing of will”. Mr. J.L.Basal a senior finance and investment consultant gave in depth presentation on investment planning, giving projection of how a stock, mutual fund has appreciated and also disadvantages and advantages in shares, insurance, mutual fund, investment in gold, postal services. From the bank ICICI, an executive also gave a supportive presentation on financial investment and comparison of different schemes available in the market.
Mr. V.K.Maheshwari, Former Registrar General, High Court, Uttarkhand gave presentation on Legal aspect of “WILL”, how to right a will. How a will is written, what is the format, who can write a will. And finally how a WILL is recognized. It was very effective and insightful learning experience for one and all. There was an interactive session after his presentation, where participant asked some clarification and were given satisfactory answers to their queries.
 

Last Session

The last session was on “Meditation” which was done by Mr. Prateek Pathak (general secretary, Anugraha Drishtidaan). How meditation is a practice for better living, benefits and challenges in meditation and how to overcome that was discussed and presented. In the end there was meditation session and everyone felt relaxed and indrawn.

At the end Dr. Jauhari Lal, president, Anugraha Drishtidaan thanked everyone present and also the association and ONGC for support and success of the workshop. And the action points were also discussed as certain issues related to retired people were to presented to the management of ONGC for upliftment of retired people.

Abuse of Older Persons

Survey carried out by Help - Age India and Sigure on ‘abuse’ in 8 cities viz Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Bhopal, Chennai, Patna and Hyderabad is quite revealing

Kind of abuses

• ‘Abuse’ is reported more from the family members with son and daughters- in- law emerging as the major culprits.

• Abuse by domestic help was reported more in Delhi (19%).

• 35% of the elderly faced abuse due to property issues. 30 % of elders feel lack of emotional support and 29% feel lack of basic necessities.

• 53% of the elderly did not take any action when they faced ‘abuse’.

• 92% of the elderly did not register any complaint against the abuser.

• Awareness about laws, policies and programmes against ‘abuse’ is low among the elderly.

• 46% of the elderly are financially dependent on others. 54% are dependent upon their son.

• Elder abuse consist of emotional abuse (39%) verbal abuse (37%) economic abuse (35%) disrespect (34%) and physical abuse (34%).

• Showing disrespect was more in Chennai (71%) verbal abuse was more in Mumbai (79%), Emotional abuse was more in Delhi (62%) and physical abuse was more in Kolkata(23%)

• More than half of elderly stay with son while 27% stay with spouse and 10% live alone.
  45% of the elderly have pension as the main source of income and one fifth get income from interest on savings and fixed deposit etc.

• 51% of the elderly own property and this is highest in Delhi (68%) and lowest in Hyderabad (28%)

Changing Scenario

• Priorities of the Governments and the Societies had been undergoing a change so far older persons are concerned. focus had been ‘youth’ and ‘children’

• Physical, financial and emotional conditions of a large population of elderly persons is pathetic

• Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing 2002 as policy declaration of UN was a Milestone

United Nations Initiatives

• Full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of all older persons

• Achievement of secure ageing

• Empowerment of older persons

• Provision of opportunities for individual development

• United Nations Initiatives Contd..

• Ensuring the full enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights

• Commitment to gender equality among older persons through

• Recognition of the crucial importance of families

• Provision of health care, support and social protection

• Facilitating partnership between all levels

National Policy of Government of India

• Government of India approved the National Policy for Older Persons on January 13, 1999
     - Setting up of a pension fund for in the unorganized sector
     - Construction of old age homes and day care centers for every 3-4 districts

• Establishment of resource centers and re-employment bureaus

• Concessional rail/air fares for travel within and between cities, i.e.,30% discount in train and 50% in Indian Airlines.

• Enacting legislation for ensuring compulsory geriatric care in all the public hospitals.

• Setting up of a National Council for Older Person, called Agewell Foundation

• Attempts to sensitize school children to live and work with the elderly

• Government policy encourages a prompt settlement of pension, provident fund (PF), gratuity, etc.

• Discount in tax for the elderly persons

• Banks give 0.5% extra interest on 9% interest under Senior citizens saving scheme

• Launched ‘Annapurana Yojana’ for the benefit of aged persons

• Maintenance of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007

• Maintenance of Parents and Senior Citizens

• Establishment of Old age Homes

• Provisions for Medical care of Senior Citizens

• Protection of Life and property of Senior Citizens

• Health a Key Issue

Dr. Jorgan Bernard Jensen devoted 15 years of his life in seeking out and visiting the world’s oldest people to learn about their healthy Life Styles. He met the world’s oldest Human – Shirali Mislimov of former Republic of Azerbaijan who had celebrated his 168th Birthday by working in his garden. He also interviewed Shirin Gasanav of former Soviet Russia who used to ride a horse until the age of 148 years and at the age of 153 his blood pressure was 130 over 80 and his pulse was 75 beats per minute.

• Dr. Jensen developed formula for health and longevity

• Do something physical every day to ensure good blood and lymph circulation

• Learn to breathe properly

• Eat a sensible combination of raw and cooked foods daily

• Have some form of raw or clabbered milk product daily if possible

• Take food supplements only when you suspect your organically grown foods are not supplying necessary nutrients

• Severely restrict or entirely eliminate the intake of any chemicals or other foreign, inorganic substances

• Restrict or entirely eliminate consumption of alcoholic beverages

• Distance yourself from tobacco smoke

• Re-establish a bond with nature by growing a garden or even a few plants

• Participate in civic activities that are important to your community

• take care of your mental, emotional and spiritual life

• Be kind, charitable and helpful to others

• See yourself as being happy and you’ll be happy

• Be someone, young people can turn to for advice and inspiration

• Don’t be too fanatical or overly strict about this business of getting old – nobody will take you seriously

• A long life lived may not be good enough but a good life lived is always long enough