CRIME AGAINST SENIOR CITIZENS IN METROPOLITAN CITIES IN INDIA: TREND, EFFECTS AND GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

The paper discussed the incidences of crime against senior citizen in metropolitan cities in India. It has found that there are more incidences of crime against senior citizens in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. There are also incidences of crimes against senior citizen’s in Ahmedabad, Indore, Nagpur, Jaipur, Coimbatore, Lucknow, and Kolkata, but comparatively low. There is no crime against senior citizens reported in Patna, Ghaziabad and Kanpur. The incidences of crimes are counted on the basis of Crime in India, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 reports published by National Crime Records Bureau, Government of India. Crimes against the senior citizens have been on the rise in India over the years. While the fear of crime is stronger in the middle class, the main source of fear is lack of social inclusion for old people. Theft, burglary and fraud are the most common crimes against senior citizens. The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 has provisions for food, clothing, shelter, medical care, health care, entertainment etc. for senior citizens. Government has implemented schemes, such as Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, National Pension Scheme, tax benefits, bank interest rate advantages etc. for socially empowerment of the senior citizens.