Due to the busy schedule of children, elderly people are obliged to stay at home all by themselves. As there is no one to look after them, their health is completely neglected. This compels them to live a miserable life.
DOLAKHA, July 16: In our culture, we have always been taught to regard our parents as god. However, some children are found abandoning and neglecting their parents during their old age, when they need support the most.
Nevertheless, rhere are some exemplary sons and daughters who love their parents more than their lives. In this regard, a local unit in Dolakha has introduced a program to honor such children and also to provide them with prize money.
Tamakoshi Rural Municipality of Dolakha has decided to honor the sons and daughters-in-law who give the best treatment to their elderly parents.
Elderly people left alone in villages to fend for themselves
Due to the busy schedule of children, elderly people are obliged to stay at home all by themselves. As there is no one to look after them, their health is completely neglected. This compels them to live a miserable life. So considering their health and facility, the local unit has brought this program.
On Saturday, 21 couples were awarded by the rural municipality for treating their parents properly.
Not just the couples but two unmarried women were also awarded for treating their elderly parents well.
Ishwar Chandra Pokharel, chairperson of the rural municipality, says the local unit wants to make sure that no elderly person is living an isolated or neglected life.
"Our tradition of keeping our parents with us during their old age is often appreciated by others," said Pokharel, adding, "But we are giving up this good culture of ours due to our busy schedule."
According to him, this program will encourage the sons, daughters and daughters-in-law to treat elderly people in a good manner. Earlier, to make sure that old people are not bored the rural municipality had organized gatherings for the elderly people every day in the afternoon.
Those who were felicitated on Saturday received Rs 5,000 each. Gita Budhathoki of Tamakoshi-4 says it is the responsibility of every son and daughter-in-law to take care of the elderly parents and the program has further encouraged them.
"I will use this money to buy Horlicks and other nutritious food for my in-laws," she said.
This award is given once in a year for which the local unit inspects the local households thrice without letting the people know.
"Our officials will inspect the behavior and treatment of couples as well as their children toward the elderly people and then decide whether they deserve to be awarded or not," said Chairperson Pokharel.
