Kerala polls: Ageing voters in state seek security, dignity
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): For 81-year-old Krishnamma, the high-stakes April 9 Kerala Assembly elections boils down to a single, urgent question. When party workers arrived at the doorstep of her modest, tile-roofed home in the hill hamlet of Vithura to seek a vote, she didn't want to hear about manifestos or political rivalries. Instead, she looked at them and asked, "When will I get my next pension payment?"
For thousands like her, the election is not just about politics, it is about survival, dignity and the assurance of care in the twilight years.
In a state often celebrated for its human development indicators, a silent demographic shift is underway, with Kerala's ageing population currently at 16.5 per cent -- the highest in the country -- and senior citizens forming a significant, powerful voting bloc.
The issues of elderly people are quite different from the voters of other age groups, as they want consistent disbursal of monthly pensions, medical facilities at their doorsteps and constructive means of engagement to address their loneliness.
As the LDF, UDF and NDA roll out promises tailored to this segment, Kerala's elderly are weighing not just what is being offered but also who can deliver with consistency and compassion.
"I depend entirely on the monthly pension. So, whichever party comes to power, my request is to ensure a consistent and increased social security pension," Suresh, a 70-year-old retired headload worker, told PTI.
Beyond economic and medical concerns, social isolation is emerging as a silent crisis among Kerala's elderly, especially those living alone as children migrate abroad.
Susheela, a retired government employee in Pandalam, wants a special scheme to address the safety and security of parents who live alone as children work abroad.
"Safety is always a matter of concern for us. We are living alone at home, as both of our children are working in two foreign countries. If we have a medical emergency at night, what will we do? That's also a major concern for me," the 72-year-old woman told PTI.
When Mohanan Nair, a KSRTC pensioner here, wants a dedicated space for senior citizens to spend time every day, Satheesh Chandran, a retired bank manager, feels that urgent steps are needed to address the social isolation being faced by the elderly.
The ruling LDF, highlighting its expansion of social welfare pensions in recent years, has promised to further increase their monthly assistance.
The UDF, meanwhile, has accused the government of alleged irregular disbursements and has pledged time-bound payments along with a revision of pension amounts.
The NDA has focused on creating a more structured social security framework, promising better integration of central schemes.
Senior CPI(M) leader and former Rajya Sabha MP T N Seema said the formulation of a "Vayojana Nayam" (Kerala State Policy for Elderly Persons) and the setting up of the Senior Citizens Commission are among the significant achievements of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government.
"In the past 10 years, the Left government was able to create an elderly-friendly atmosphere in the state through a series of interventions," she told PTI.
She recalled that steps had been taken to popularise the concepts, like senior citizen clubs at the grassroots level through local self-government institutions for the productive engagement of the elderly.
Kerala became the first state to introduce an exclusive "elderly budget" along with the state budget document in January this year to address the geriatric demographic shift.
Senior citizens have become the major beneficiaries when palliative care has been extended widely and the concept of care economy has been implemented in the state by the government, Seema said.
However, senior Congress leader and former Assembly deputy speaker Palode Ravi questioned the claims of the ruling front and said the senior citizens have been one of the most untapped sections in society in the past 10 years.
"Senior citizens in Kerala are one of the most experienced and potential banks of talent. But the lack of visionary initiatives by the Left government has turned them into a mere group waiting for their monthly pension of Rs 2,000," he told PTI.
If the UDF comes to power, a dedicated system will be developed to make use of their talents and potentials completely, Ravi added.
BJP general secretary S Suresh also criticised the Left government in terms of its approach towards elders and accused it of not implementing many central schemes for them properly.
"Kerala is one of the very few states which has not implemented Vay Vandana Yojana, the central scheme which guarantees free healthcare up to Rs five lakh to those aged 70 years and above," he told PTI.
He alleged that the state government did not release the monthly pension to elderly people regularly.
If the NDA comes to power, the treatment for elderly people would be made completely free, the leader added.
The LDF, in its recently released election manifesto, promised several schemes for senior citizens, including retirement homes, strengthening of co-op care geriatric and palliative care centres and so on, along with the enhancement of monthly pensions up to Rs 3,000.
Meanwhile, the UDF promises to set up a dedicated department for the welfare of senior citizens and innovative initiatives like "Ammavadi" on the model of anganwadi for the care of elderly women.
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Hubballi: Gym trainer assaulted; police say clash due to personal reasons
Hubballi: A gym trainer was allegedly assaulted by a group of people following accusations of sexual assault and ‘love jihad’, even as both families involved in the case traded serious allegations.
According to police, a group of individuals went to the residence of Sameer Mulla, a resident of Vijayanagar, and questioned him over his friendship with a woman he had met at a gym. The situation escalated into a clash, during which he was allegedly dragged away and assaulted. He sustained minor injuries and was admitted to KIMS hospital.
N. Shashikumar said that after this incident, members from Sameer’s side went to the woman’s house, leading to another clash in which one person was injured. “It was wrong for groups to go near houses. We will take necessary legal action,” he said, adding that the incident appears to have arisen from personal reasons. Police have taken some individuals into custody and are investigating the matter.
Sameer Mulla was reportedly thrashed by a group of Sangh Parivar activists and later handed over to police at the Old Hubballi Police Station after relatives of the woman and members of Hindu organisations gathered at his residence in Rajnagar.
The woman’s family alleged assault and threats from Sameer’s relatives at their Vikas Nagar residence.
Meanwhile, Sameer’s family denied the allegations and accused the woman’s relatives and others of assaulting and kidnapping him. His sister said the two had been in a relationship for three years and that the allegations were baseless.
Police said statements from both sides have been recorded, and a detailed investigation is underway. Sameer remains hospitalised, and appropriate legal action will be taken based on findings.
In a video statement shared on social media, the 20-year-old woman alleged that Sameer had given her an intoxicant, recorded videos without her consent, and sexually assaulted her. She lodged a complaint alleging rape and blackmail, which police are investigating.
In another video, Sameer denied the allegations, claiming the video was recorded with consent and that the accusations were made under pressure.
Former Hubballi-Dharwad Urban Development Authority (HDUDA) chairman Nagesh Kalburgi termed the incident a serious matter and urged police to take strict action.
Police said the case involves multiple complaints from both sides, and further investigation is underway.
