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Fear Of Crime Stalks Delhi's Elderly
By Ayanjit Sen, BBC News
July 2, 2004
It was supposed to be a gentle retirement after a lifetime's hard work.
But instead, 71-year-old HS Sarna, a retired income tax commissioner, is frightened to step outside his house - even though it is in what is supposed to a respectable middle class area of Delhi.
Mr Sarna reflects a growing trend of the middle classes - his children have moved out to live in their own homes.
Sociologists say these changes have left many elderly people feeling lonely and more vulnerable to crime.
Last year, 18 people over 60 living alone in Delhi were killed. This year, there have been another 12 victims.
Recently, an elderly couple was tortured and killed in an upmarket housing colony in Delhi.
Although police say they have arrested the man accused, the killings have heightened fears of insecurity further.
Alarm system
Another senior citizen, Rahul Dev Burman, says there is a clear lack of cooperation between local policemen and Delhi's private colony guards.
"Earlier it used to be said that women were not safe in Delhi, but now nobody is safe here. I am scared," he says.
However, police contend that several steps have been taken to protect senior citizens.
Neighbourhood watch schemes, patrolling by policemen and even wireless alarm systems have been distributed to residents, they say.
"We have taken some steps recently for the protection of senior citizens. For example, the alarm system is working wonders to create a feeling of security among senior residents," said a senior police official.
The alarm system allows a senior citizen to press a button for help if he or she suspects the presence of an intruder in the house.
Servant references
But senior citizens say that in spite of all these measures, incidents of murder and robbery have increased.
After the last double murder in Delhi, police decided to set up a special cell to deal with the security of senior citizens, which will coordinate and monitor campaigns for their safety.
The senior police official said they had set up help lines for pensioners.
The official said robbery was the prime motive for most crimes committed against elderly people.
"We have issued an advisory for senior citizens to submit the names and other details of their servants to the nearest police station," the official said.
"There have been many incidents in which servants or their relatives or friends have committed murder or robbery in such houses."
Police say that pensioners have been asked to ensure servants have bona fide references from former employers.
But some former senior police officers say the problem has become so acute that the entire policing programme in relation to pensioners needs a change of officers and a change of strategy.
"There should be consistent steps taken for the security of senior citizens," said a former police officer.
Mr Sarna says that what is needed is more security and more psychological help.
"It has been 15 years since any policeman has come to my house to inquire how I am," he said.
"The authorities announce various steps regarding security but seldom implement them."
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