New Delhi: A study report has revealed that human rights of the elderly people are increasingly being violated because of the "popularity of nuclear and small families, lack of intergenerational interaction, and non-existence of an inclusive social security system".

The study was conducted by Agewell Foundation on 5,000 seniorcitizens across India. The study report was released on the occasion of International Human Rights Day.The report also mentions that almost 86% of senior citizens are unaware of their human rights and only 68.8% have access to necessary medicines and healthcare. The situation is worse in urban areas.

Over 23% of such people were found to be living in inhuman conditions while nearly 13% revealed that they don't get proper food necessary in their age. Nearly half of those surveyed (47.4%) said they thought their advanced age was the reason for their discrimination and humiliation.

Those aged between 60-70 "are more aggressive towards the protection of their human rights", but due to faster population growth and increasing gap between generations, it's always a struggle for them.

The report also lays down the most common problems faced by the elderly such as marginalisation and disregard, loss of respect in the family, inaccessibility to medicine, security, and depression.

HimanshuRath, chairman of Agewell Foundation, said, "Due to lack of awareness about human rights, old people face increased instances of age discrimination, ageism, elder abuse and mistreatment. Creating awareness of human rights of the elderly and protecting them has become an uphill task for all of us."

Rath said that the rights of an individual in old age are considered a moral responsibility of family members; instead, it should be seen as a basic human right.

"We need to inculcate a sense of responsibility towards rights of the elderly through school curriculum, inter-generational interventions, and a review of policy formulations and their implementation," Rath added.