Life for the aged in modern day India

Met this woman at the grocer's. I used to come across her ever so often. In her late sixties. At library, at the park, at cultural events in our neighborhood. A sprightly, smart and lively soul. We used to engage in small talk at times. Then she dropped out of sight. After almost 3 years I saw her again. Her hair had turned white,and though she readily smiled in recognition, there was this weary look around her eyes, at the corners of her mouth. It seems her husband had died after a prolonged illness. She does have two children, but they are settled abroad; neither visited even after the news of their father's death. The other relatives are - how shall we put it?  'non-interfering', ie they do not wish to be burdened in any way with her. But life has to be lived. And so she continues.

Then there is another old lady who can barely see, but hobbles to the park twice a day. Everyday. Because otherwise she would never see or hear another human being. Again, the relatives have vanished.

This condition of old and lonely people - lonely because nobody wants to be the 'fall guy' in case they ever need help, assistance of any sort - has climbed up sharply in India in the last few decades, with the demise of the joint-family. They are left with no support network just when they really need it. And the government does a damn all about it. The old-age homes only accept people who are fit; the younger the better!