Mainstreaming Ageing In Development
Meeting The Challenge

By Jhabindra Bhandari

IN the last twenty years, population ageing has continued its momentum. The number of older people in developing countries will more than double over the next quarter century. The rapid growth in the numbers of older people worldwide is creating a global challenge for the new millennium. Ageing is thus becoming an increasingly pressing global issue - in social, economic and development terms.
Recognition

The 12th International Day of Older Persons was celebrated on October 1, 2002. On this important occasion, Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare took a lead role to coordinate and organise different programmes to highlight the crucial needs of respect to older persons and recognition of their significant contributions in the society.

The agenda of the International Day of older persons was largely concentrated on how to face the challenges of older people and chalk out the right strategies and direction so that lives of older persons are better secured and their participation in development are well recognised in the society. More importantly, this was unique opportunity to focus policy makers' attention on ageing and create an enabling environment for partnerships with civil society organisations for the welfare of older persons in the society.

The Second World Assembly on ageing was held in Madrid, Spain in April 2002, twenty years on from the first meeting in Vienna in 1982. In this period, limited progress has been achieved in improving the lives of the majority of the older people in most developing countries. Over 300 million older people live in Asia Pacific Region, their experiences represent a huge and largely untapped resources. In practice, their knowledge, concerns and experiences are rarely considered in major development debates.

The Second World Assembly actually reviewed the International Plan of Action on Ageing adopted at Vienna. This provided a global forum not only to share experiences but also adopt a revised version as well as long - term strategy for ageing. More importantly, Nepal for the first time participated in this event with the country paper focusing on situation of older people, their problems and challenges in the country.

Of course, poverty is the biggest obstacle to a secure old age. Older people in developing countries are recognised to be among the poorest of the poor. In these countries, most older people can not meet their basic needs, including food, health care, clothing and shelter. They also lack access to income-earning activities. In fact, older women are more dependant on their families which increase their vulnerability. Particularly women who are widows and living without families are the most vulnerable. On the other part, lack of access to health services is most critical to older people' s survival.

Many initiatives are, however, taking place to increase older people's access to resources and enhance their participation in development. HelpAge International (HAI) is a global network of not-for- profit organisations with a mission to work with and for disadvantaged older people worldwide to achieve a lasting improvement in the quality of their lives. In Asia and the Pacific, HAI works with a wide range of members and partners, from community groups and NGOs, to governmental organisations, from over twenty countries across the region.

The HAI has identified ten concrete actions to ensure that older people across the world benefit from the full range of internationally accepted human rights. There are emerging needs of recognising the human rights of older people and the benefits of population ageing for human development. Some of the concrete actions as envisioned by HAI mainly are to guarantee adequate social protection and minimum income in old age, make credit, employment, training and education schemes available to people regardless of age, ensure policy makers listen to and act on the views of older people and support them in their role as carers.

In Nepal, a participatory research on older people's situation was conducted by Nepal Participatory Action Network (NEPAN) in partnership with HAI in 2001. The results from this research have been instrumental in advocating the rights of older people to policy makers and planners at all levels. Similarly, another participatory research, with support from HAI, on older people's access to media has recently been accomplished and shared to different stakeholders. Responses from the government and civil society organisations are increasingly encouraging to improve the lives of older people in society. Provision of older age allowances and old age homes are some of the important initiatives taken so far in the country.

In this regards, NEPAN with the support from HAI and UNFPA, is presently active to undertake advocacy and capacity building of NGOs and regional networks in ageing issues so that there will be increased community awareness on older people's contribution and role to play in families and communities. More importantly, this creates an enabling environment where older people are better cared and supported in the families.

Neglect

As a matter of fact, older people throughout the world are subjected to physical, emotional, psychological and financial abuse and neglect by their families and communities. But we can make a difference to the lives of older people if their voices are heard. Ageing issues must become central to the global fight against poverty and to ensure that older people's basic rights are met. Therefore, government, civil society organisations and private sectors formulate policies and start concrete actions to meet the growing challenges of ageing population.

Chhaupadi System: A Religious Blemish

By Laxman Datt Pant

WOMEN in Nepal continue to fall victims to male supremacy. In almost every field of our life they are treated as inferior beings. We may shout about constitutional equality between men and women but we shall have to go a long way before women will find an equal and honorable place in the society. The privileged being called man is always there to lord it over women. A few brave souls, no doubt do now and then stand up to fight against this injustice, but this isolated effort is too feeble to shatter the stronghold of male dominance.

One of the most hideous aspects of our society is the 'Chhaupadi System', a practice existing in western part of the country. It is a complex phenomenon and there are several dimensions to it. It reduces a girl or a woman into humanness commodity and lowers her dignity. It is the system that has been in use for hundreds of years in far western region especially in Baitadi, Doti, Darchula, Dadeldhura, Bajhang, Bajura and even in Kanchanpur and Kailali districts including some parts of Mid-western region.

The word "Chhaupadi" is used to address those girls and women who are in their period of menstruation and pregnancy. They, during the period, are supposed to be untouchable and kept with animals in cow sheds and far away from the home. The society believes that gods and goddess become angry if any woman is allowed to sleep, sit or even stand in home, bed or in rooms during her period.

A girl in her first menstruation period is kept far away from home for ten days. It is believed that any relatives especially brothers shouldn't see her during her first menstruation for ten days. Other women during their period are not allowed to touch water, temple, house, people and they are kept in animals' shed popularly called 'goth' for five days. In case if anyone touches them, he/she will be purified by cow urine.

This system is also practiced when a woman gives birth her child. She is untouchable during one month and in the remote villages, she is kept with cattle and no balanced diet is given to her. During this period, many women are compelled to commit suicide and others fall prey to rapists.
They also suffer from long-term disease due to cold and die soon. Some of them have been reported to be eaten by animals like tiger when they stay alone. Newborn children also suffer from many diseases some of them die soon.

Chhaupadi System has not been abolished due to lack of education and awareness. People in far western region are still the blind supporters of any social and religious set up. They simply believe that religion means superstitions and the traditions that have been in practice for years. Most of the girls are uneducated and are not allowed to go school. There has not been any special programme to control this serious malady. It is very disheartening to see even the educated people are involved in encouraging this system.

Thus a heavy responsibility falls on the shoulders of our social workers. The politicians can at least raise voice against this issue. The biggest responsibility will be that of the women themselves. They must organise themselves. This religious blemish, mental torture and social shame should be abolished at any cost.