Community psychology
The important economic and social problem of the
21st century which the countries of the world are facing is growing
number of the aged population. It is estimated that by 2025 the number of
persons above 60yeras (the third age) will increase from the current 590
million to 1.2 billion. That means namely 25% of the population will be in
third age. This situation is described as “silver tsunami” . This segment of
the population is considered as unproductive and dependent population. The
burden of higher dependent population on the limited working population would
create economic and social problems. It will pose challenges to a growing
economy in the form of fewer tax contributors and larger number of benefit
receivers and this would strain the budget. The working population in addition
to paying taxes will have to support the elders which is likely to result in
cutting down their savings and investments and that would create tension within
the family and on the nation’s capital formation process. Thus, aging has its
impact on family and the economies all over the world.
Social scientists talk about “community
psychology” as a solution to this problem. In simple terms, it means, involving the seniors in the community services either on voluntary or
honorarium basis so that, their
psychological wellbeing is maintained or restored . When they start utilising their expertise in different fields
and wisdom in executing community projects ,
they get a purpose in living . To fit in community projects , they have
to empower themselves through
acquisition of the basic skills required for that projects. They can even regain their social and
financial independence since the funded NGOs and the government can pay for
their services when utilising their services for their welfare projects.. Thus
,community psychology helps and this driving away frustration born out of
loneliness and idleness by
keeping them physically and mentally busy. .
The projects in which
the senior can be integrated are plenty. They are,creation of awareness
prorammes on health, legal. adult
literacy, organ donation, blood donation, environmental issues, family
planning, voter’s rights , corruption,.
green environment and pollution free atmosphere, helping in empowering the differently abled adults, managing day
care centers elders , senior citizens
homes and orphanages. They can even help in rehabilitation of destitute women
and children. Rendering value
education to school children is the need of the hour since,
India
is
facing crisis of character. They
can organise cultural programmes for fund raising for the betterment of village schools and free senior citizen
homes .They can supervise civil work schemes. The active seniors can offer
counseling to depressed d seniors and help them in times of need.
Public intervention is needed to help the elders to achieve
self enrichment i.e., it is the duty of the governments to allocate sufficient
resources to upgrade their skills. Free computer and crash teachers training courses can be
arranged by the government to the elders
because, there is a tremendous
dearth of experienced teachers in India and The retired teachers and newly trained
elders can be engaged on hourly
basis so
that they can help government
school children in English, mathematics
and value education.
Several countries such as USA,
Canada, Norway Philippines
and China
have started adopting community psychology to convert the aging population from
the position of liability to assets by converting them into productive human
resource. In china
arrangements are available for life long learning to elders. 15000 centers are
engaged in teaching technology, free of charge to one million elders. Their
proverb says “at dusk, do not say it is too late, do say that there is sunshine all over the sky.”
Written By Dr. .Prof
Rameeza.A.Rasheed (published in Elders, the
news letter of Tamil Nadu Senior Citizen Association )
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