Old and alone

Eid is fast approaching and most of us will likely be spending the festival with our families. But there are many who will pass the period either alone at home or in old-age homes. I usually avoid watching the heart-wrenching episodes of TV anchors talking to people in old age homes, some of whom have been abandoned by their own children. However, most unfortunate are those elderly citizens who have families but live in secluded rooms discarded and ignored by their own children or families because of family issues or conflicts between family members. An old-age home might be a better alternative to such a situation but there are many families who avoid choosing this option due to social stigma. I am reminded of the Senior Citizens Bill 2021 passed by both houses and made into an act which also envisaged setting up homes for elderly and senior citizens besides other subsidies. Unfortunately, the act is yet to be implemented in a real sense. I know that senior citizens are not high in the priority list of any government but still, they form a significant part of the population and need to be looked after.

Malik ul Quddoos

Karachi