Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Pandemic has exposed and exacerbated the neglect of older people in India

By Imtiaz Ahmed, Mission Head – Agecare, HelpAge India

I FEEL an overwhelming sense of dread at the moment. The number of Covid-19 cases in India is surging every day, taking the total over 100,000. Now that the lockdown is being relaxed, I fear these numbers will significantly increase.


I hate to think what the numbers will be in June. I wonder if we are ever going to be able to come out of this crisis.

Testing is so difficult in a country with such a large population and inadequate health infrastructure. In the absence of active community screening, the numbers reported may be minuscule compared to the real numbers.

And there is an overriding concern that if Covid-19 breaks out in rural areas, the situation could be uncontrollable with the health centres unprepared, and many of them not having the intensive care units and ventilators needed to save lives.

I cannot even begin to explain the current levels of stress prevailing – related to both the spread of Covid-19 and the loss of livelihoods on an epic scale.

So many families are in deep trouble. Many of them have no means whatsoever of earning a living at the moment and if they aren’t already destitute, they fear they soon will be.

Many older people in India earn money through petty trading to be able to contribute to the family income and they are now struggling to do this because of the restrictions. Older people tell us that they are now entirely dependent on their families and they feel helpless.

Older people are particularly at risk, as there is not a universal national pension. And where states do offer pensions, it can be as low as Rs 200 to 300 (about £2-3) a month.

The government has thankfully released emergency funds to support older people, but this is only in certain states and many older people are really struggling to be able to feed themselves.

HelpAge is organising food distributions for marginalised older people across the country, in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and other smaller cities. We help about 10-12,000 people every day, but I’m fully aware that we can in no way make a dent in the level of need out there.

It’s a very dangerous time for older people and many are telling us that if they don’t die of Covid-19, they’ll die of hunger. It really is a matter of life and death and time is of the essence to help them.

Unfortunately, we see that this is leading to abuse due to the stress on households to provide the means to sustain their families. Abuse of older people has always been a problem in India, especially by sons or daughter-in laws -- as our studies have shown -- but all the stress around Covid-19 is making it even worse.

We're getting lots of calls about abuse, as well as other issues, on our 24/7 helpline where we provide practical support and counselling for older people. The phones are just ringing off the hook at all times of the day, where normally they would start to slow down by evening.

Older people are calling in depressed and frustrated. Some just want to talk; others need help to be able to buy food or medicine.

I’m working 15-16 hour days to ensure whatever possible we can offer.

When I recently gave a food package to an older man, he said, "For the first time in a very long period my family will appreciate me. I'm just seen as a burden as I can't contribute to the household."

It really saddened me to think that so many older people struggling to prove themselves to be accepted and appreciated by their families.

The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated the neglect of older people in India.

Now, more than ever they need to be supported and protected. And they should be allowed to live in safety and in dignity. It’s the least they deserve.

More For You

From silence to spotlight: How Ella D’Verma turned her truth into power

In a world still catching up with the truths of trans identity

Instagram / elladverma

From silence to spotlight: How Ella D’Verma turned her truth into power

AS Pride Month sweeps across the world in a blaze of colour, protest and celebration, one Indian voice continues to rise with unwavering authenticity. Ella D’Verma is reshaping narratives as a transgender model, fearless LGBTQ+ advocate and digital content creator with a powerful global following.

In a world still catching up with the truths of trans identity, her visibility has become vital – the embodiment of pride in action. In this exclusive conversation with Eastern Eye, she speaks about her journey, the importance of visibility, self-expression, navigating the fashion industry as a trans model, representation, and her vision for the future.

Keep ReadingShow less
Amycretin

'The Lancet' and presentations at the American Diabetes Association’s 2025

iStock

New weight-loss pill Amycretin shows greater impact than jabs, study finds

A new weight-loss drug, amycretin, has delivered the most significant results yet for appetite-suppressing GLP-1 medications, according to two newly published studies in The Lancet and presentations at the American Diabetes Association’s 2025 Scientific Sessions in Chicago.

Record weight loss from Amycretin injections

Researchers found that participants receiving high-dose weekly injections of amycretin lost 24.3 per cent of their body weight over 36 weeks. This outcome surpasses the results seen in longer trials involving other GLP-1 drugs such as tirzepatide (sold as Mounjaro), which previously led the field with an average weight loss of 20 per cent over 72 weeks.

Keep ReadingShow less
Asian representation Parkinson’s awareness

Organisations like Parkinson’s UK are so vital.

Instagram/ itsmitamistry

Joining the movement: Championing Asian representation and Parkinson’s awareness through sport

Mita Mistry

I recently joined the incredible team at the Asian Sports Foundation. It is an honour to work alongside passionate individuals such as Shazia Ali, Harleen Kaur and Angus Martin. Since it was founded by Jug Johal, the Asian Sports Foundation has worked to transform inactivity into active living, promoting better wellbeing and greater representation of Asian communities in sport and physical activity.

This is a cause close to my heart. The undeniable power of sport and movement to improve both physical and mental health cannot be overstated. It is a message I have consistently championed, alongside a commitment to equity and inclusion, which is why I am so excited to contribute to a charity that truly embodies this ethos.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bollyday

Bollyday has rewritten the rulebook on clubbing – and frankly, it feels long overdue.

Bollyday brings Bollywood sparkle to daytime clubbing and it’s a five-star game-changer

Whoever said you need moonlight to find magic clearly has not stepped onto the spectacular, LED-lit dance floor at this daytime Bollywood bonanza.

From the moment the doors opened at Popworld in London, Bollyday fizzed with the kind of unfiltered joy usually reserved for weddings or late-night parties – except here, you still get home in time for a proper night’s sleep (and Sunday roast prep).

Keep ReadingShow less
Labubu

Its appeal lies in its unpredictability, emotional expressiveness, and the thrill of collecting

Getty Images

Labubu’s unlikely rise from quirky Chinese toy to global phenomenon

A mischievous elf-like toy called Labubu has gone from niche collectable to global cultural phenomenon. Created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung and popularised by Chinese toy giant Pop Mart, Labubu has captured the imaginations of collectors from Beijing to London and beyond, with celebrity endorsements and long queues at retail stores fuelling its rapid rise.

The birth of Labubu

Labubu originated as a character in The Monsters, a picture book series by Lung. With its signature wide eyes, pointed ears and toothy grin, the figure was designed to be kind-hearted yet chaotic, charming in a deliberately imperfect way. The name “Labubu” itself doesn’t mean anything; it was invented for the character.

Keep ReadingShow less