NO one will mind a seamed face and silver crown marking the decline of life. Not even infirmities and ailments which lie in wait. But aging people are loath to be taken as odd men out, useless limbs of the society. This is the crucial time of life when they need to keep busy, for keeping busy is one of God’s blessings.
The onset of old age is a curse in the East. All old people do not receive pension like government servants do, and all old people are not entitled to free or subsidized medical treatment which is their most urgent need. This is the eventide of life when old people’s grownup children find their parents a burden. So, the poor old people are left to fend for themselves. As a result, old age makes people a prisoner of indispositions leading to incapacity, infirmity and decrepitude. They are besieged not only by disease but also by crises which they find themselves unequal to, and to which they must, surrender.
These old people with seamed faces and silver crowns are the same people who once were active and useful members of the society. They accumulated and consummated skills and experiences which matured with years to be more useful in those fields.
The prerogative of old age is, therefore, a privileged treatment of advanced years. The West calls them ‘senior citizens’ and provides them with the prerogatives of old age.
But China has come up with a rather useful and healthy work for its old people. People visiting Shanghai, Karachi’s twin-city, see old people frequently sitting comfortably on chairs at crossings and controlling traffic. People respect them and the traffic flows smoothly and uneventfully.
There may be many other useful ways to keep old people happily and healthfully employed. In April last, I saw a newspaper report that the government of Pakistan was planning to set up a senior citizens talent pool. It was very encouraging and something in the right direction. I wrote at once to the obvious source of the news, but nothing was heard.
Anyone can imagine that a senior citizens talent pool can at once help to repair the craquelure of our social landscape, restoring the work ethics and social disciplines which are vital for development and progress. If you are a senior citizen, the talent pool would be making its pull on you.
Here are some of the fields which the proposed talent pool can surely serve:
1. Adult education.
2. Creating something like the City Guilds to standardise certain basic skills.
3. Supporting resource to school-teaching
4. Promoting consumer association
5. Organizing ‘Mohalla’ committees for social work
6. Advisory and consultancy service and to this list can be added many more.
