Old, Lonely and Not Safe at Home

That's the heading in the third page of The Times of India. Crimes against the elderly are on the rise in the capital and rest of NCR. This year, eight senior citizens have been been murdered so far, while 2006 witnessed 26 such cases. Breaking up of joint families has brought loneliness and alienation to the elderly. In almost all the cases, the victims were living alone. The Delhi policeboasts to
have the largest police force in the world, but the culprits have made jokers of them, just as one sees in Indian movies. In most cases the culprits are never apprehended. It's really a tragedy. The elderly people who live alone are now afraid to meet outsiders. The husband dare not step out of the house leaving his wife alone. They don't trust the police any more. Joint family is the solution to this problem. But when a family becomes large, accommodation problem arises, and somebody will have to shift elsewhere. So, gradually , the joint family automatically disintegrates. Then, what is the solution to this evil? The police will have to be more active. The public avoids the Indian police because they harass those who go to the police station to lodge a complaint. Most thefts are never reported to the police because of this harassment. The Indian police is a special brand of force, which the public avoid. The attitude of the police has to change. They'll have to regain the confidence of the people.They'll have to serve with a smile. Protection to the senior citizens living alone must be beefed up. Service to the masses must be the motto of the police.