Old citizens predicted to reach 29m in 2020

JAKARTA (JP): The number of elderly people here will more than double over the next two decades, increasing from 11.3 million, or 6.3 percent of the 1990 population, to 29 million or 11.4 percent in 2020.

Legislators, however, do not foresee any social problems resulting from the increase.

In a session between Minister of Social Services Yustika S. Baharsyah and the House of Representatives Commission VI for people's welfare on Tuesday, it was revealed that by comparison, the number of children under five years of age is projected to reach only 17.6 million in 2020.

The session was for the third reading of the bill on senior citizens. The document is to be endorsed within the next two weeks.

The legislators agreed that Indonesia's population is aging fast through a combination of successful family planning program and increasing life expectancy.

According to commission chairwoman Ida Yusi Dahlan the bill is important for the protection of the elderly's welfare.

The bill is meant to amend Law No. 4/1965 which focuses only on community support for senior citizens. The bill, Ida said, is more focused on ways to empower senior citizens so they can be even more productive.

"Higher life expectancy brings more opportunities for senior citizens here to make use of their skills," Ida said.

"Most elderly people here seem to think that being 60 means an end to their world," she added.

Ida said the increasing number of elderly people must not be seen as a potential problem. "On the contrary, this law will ensure protection for the rights of the elderly."

The bill strives to impose a maximum sentence of two years and eight months imprisonment for violators of Article 304 of the Criminal Code on intentionally abandoning elderly people.

T.B. Rachmat Sentika of the Golkar faction suggested that issues such as health care services and insurance for the elderly also be taken up in the deliberation.

He also called for the establishment of more nursing homes in order to prevent "unnecessary socioeconomic costs". (edt)