Geriatric 'orphans' bank on police
KOCHI: They are the geriatric orphans of Kerala. Abandoned by their children, many aged couples in the state are turning to the police and banks to drag themselves through the autumn of their lives.
Sample this: A 90-year-old woman recently approached the Kochi city police women cell with a complaint that her businessman son and daughter-in-law were not ready to buy her medicines or food.
In another case, a senior citizen and NRI father reverse mortgaged his house after his children failed to support him. The State Bank of Travancore alone has given loan to 79 senior citizens in the state under the reverse mortgagescheme in the past five years.
The fate of aged couples with no property in their name is worse. Kochi police's women cell received 18 complaints in the first five months from senior citizens against their children. This is double the number of complaints received last year. In 2010, the cell received 15 complaints and seven in 2009.
"There has been an increase in the number of such complaints. We try to counsel their children and reconcile them. And if our efforts fail, we arrange for another place for the senior citizens to stay," said N Philomina, women cell circle inspector.
Statistics reveal that it's a pan-Kerala phenomenon. Thiruvananthapuram police received five complaints and the rural cell received three. While Kollam women cell recorded 10, Kozhikode received three and Malappuram registered one complaint.
But not all abandoned parents take it lying down. There has been a significant increase in the number of people approaching banks for reverse mortgage loans. For the uninitiated, reverse mortgaging allows a senior citizen to pledge his property for a monthly stream of income. He/she remains its owner and can continue to live in the house till his/her death without repayment or servicing of the loan.
"Since 2008 we have given loan to 79 senior citizens. Between 2009 and 2010, we gave 29 loans with a credit outflow of Rs 216.99 lakh. In 2010-2011 about 17 senior citizens benefited with a credit outflow of Rs 138.25 lakh and in 2011-2012 we had 15 senior citizens who were given loans amounting to Rs 136.16 lakh," said M C Jacob, chief general manager of SBT.
The Central Bank also saw an increase in the number of reverse mortgages. "Last year we received seven applications and we have received three this year. Many are still not aware of the scheme," said K Santosh, Central Bank (Ernakulum north) branch manager.
But there is no such solace for the homeless aged. They are forced to depend on the state machinery to mend their torn lives.
V.RAGHAVENDRA RAO,
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