Until recently, elderly people in Maldives enjoyed considerable status, respect, care, and support from their families and the community. But due to migration, changes in values and life styles, and the breakdown of the traditional family system, it is now reported that more elderly people are turning to the state for assistance and care.
Maldives is a 100 per cent Muslim country. In Islam children are obliged to take care and be kind to their parents.
What would be the reasons why some children forsake their parents?
Is it because of a financial burden, lack of filial piety or a complete disregard of children's responsibility to parents?
Our government has the responsibility to find non-legal ways to help people who need assistance to take care of their aged parents. Since we are seeing a growing neglect of the elderly, is it also time to enact legislation mandating care for the elderly with punitive measures for those who fail to do so?
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4 comments:
This is a very important topic that you have touched upon. It is a sad reality that many elderly are neglected and left for their own devices. Society have come to view them as mere dependents who do not and cannot contribute to society in any way. There is also a widespread belief among the youth that by the time one reaches middle age one is 'muskulhi'.
Well, our good parliament has yet to pass the first piece of legislation after being sworn in. We are all waiting for the expensive squabbling to end.
Hi Anonymous
The growing neglect of the elderly is profoundly disturbing and a sad reality as you have said. Equally worrisome is the fact that while our country continues to make rapid economic progress, our values of caring has also changed. When we were dependent on subsistence fishing for our livelihood, caring for our family and each other was an important value that was held in very high regard in our society.
Hi Simon
Our politicians and law makers are very good in muddling around until problems reach epidemic proportions as has happened with the influx of illegal drugs that has led to the widespread addiction mainly among our youth.
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