In the era of digitization and technological advancements, India has made significant strides in linking essential services to mobile numbers through initiatives like Aadhar and PAN integration. While these measures aim to streamline processes and enhance security, an unexplored pain point emerges, casting a shadow on the lives of those often forgotten—the elderly.

Consider the scenario where an elderly lady, living alone with no one to provide support, finds herself tethered to the mobile world. Her Aadhar-linked mobile number becomes the gateway to basic necessities such as LPG gas booking, bank transactions, and crucial services involving OTPs and PINs. A seemingly innocuous requirement, however, unfolds into a financial burden that challenges the very essence of our societal fabric.

The government’s push for a digital India inadvertently thrusts an extra burden on vulnerable segments of the population. The need to recharge her mobile every month, an expenditure ranging from ₹200-250, becomes a recurring challenge. For a family of four, this translates to a substantial monthly cost of ₹1000, a figure that looms large for those surviving on meager resources.

Let’s delve into the complexity of this issue from different angles:

  1. Financial Strain:
    • For an elderly woman surviving on a minimal pension, the burden of allocating a significant portion of her income to recharge a mobile phone raises questions of financial sustainability. With rising inflation and medical expenses, this additional expense amplifies the struggle for survival.
  2. Social Isolation:
    • The mobile phone, initially intended as a tool for connectivity, inadvertently becomes a source of social isolation. The inability to afford regular recharges hampers her communication abilities, severing ties with friends, family, and the broader community. In a world becoming increasingly interconnected, she risks being left behind.
  3. Access to Basic Services:
    • The linkage of essential services to mobile numbers presupposes universal access, inadvertently excluding those who cannot afford regular recharges. Basic rights such as LPG gas booking and banking transactions become elusive for those on the fringes of financial stability.
  4. Government Welfare Programs:
    • While the government has instituted various welfare programs, navigating the bureaucracy to avail these benefits poses its own set of challenges. The elderly, often unaware or unable to comply with the intricacies of these processes, are left in a precarious position.
  5. Digital Inclusion:
    • In the pursuit of a digital revolution, we must pause to consider the unintended consequences of leaving behind a significant demographic. Digital inclusion should not equate to financial exclusion, especially for those who have spent their lives contributing to society.

As we march towards a future shaped by technological advancements, it is imperative to assess the impact of seemingly minor requirements on the vulnerable sections of society. Should the basic right of communication not be exempt from financial constraints, especially for those who need it the most?

Perhaps it’s time for society to question, advocate, and work towards policies that ensure connectivity is not a luxury but a right, fostering inclusivity and compassion for the forgotten elderly. In the silence of their struggles, lies a collective responsibility to build a society that cares for its most vulnerable members.

By Pankaj

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