Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Senior citizens

This refers to the article “Are senior citizens treated well by society?” (Open Page, March 30). It is true that unless the old maintain their health and remain active, they are barely cared for by the government or society. The derisive word perisu in Tamil, used to address the old, is also followed by a direction to them to stay off and not interfere in anything. If the aged in India are to achieve the status of senior citizens as in the U.S., society here needs to spare sincere thoughts and dedication.

Chirutapudi Subramaniam,
Hyderabad

The extinction of the joint family system, coupled with rapid technological advancement, has alienated the senior citizen from the mainstream. The old need empathy and understanding rather than sympathy and flattery. Senior citizens, for their part, should conduct themselves in a manner that befits their age, adopting a philosophical lifestyle and being a role-model for the younger generation.

V.V. Jayaraman,
Chennai

In all families, the young and the middle-aged may be busy promoting their career. That does not mean they neglect the elders. There is really no need to complain about the treatment given to senior citizens.

T. Anand,
Chennai

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