Abstract

Elders are abused everywhere without distinction of geography, socio-cultural and politico-economic system. This imply that when the body becomes weak and the mind wandering, elders slip quietly and unwillingly in to so-called perceived security of the younger ones. However, the demand of the present life style and the urge to forge ahead of others does not leave much time or space for the family to accommodate the elders. The collateral phenomenon off-shooting out of the dual paucity i.e., time and space led to the establishment of old-age care homes. Nevertheless at the other extreme is a phenomenon, typically Indian, which is seen by all, acknowledged by few and redeemed by no one. That is the collection of cow dung and preparation of its cake as bio-fuel. This is generally done by old Indian women in villages and hamlets and people do not consider it an abuse. On the contrary it is considered to be a daily chore which the granny in the household is assumed to be well prepared to tackle. After all she has been doing it since childhood. This paper analyzes this phenomenon critically and argues why it is an abuse.

Keywords:  cow-dung, dung-cake, elderly abuse, women abuse,  granny ill treatment.