One August evening, a distraught woman was found by charity workers as she sat on the porch of her home waiting for her family to open the door.
Lakshmama, 64, had just returned from a month-long stay at a government-run hospital in southern Hyderabad city, where she was treated for severe health complications after contracting coronavirus.
But she had become a pariah for her only son and daughter-in-law, who despite her full recovery shunned Lakshmama in the belief that she still carried the virus.
"We had to convince her son to take her back. They were not ready to accept her and argued that she was a threat to them," said Mujtaba Hasan Askari, the founder at Helping Hand Foundation, which looked after Lakshmama for several weeks until she returned home.
Sadly, it is not an isolated case.
Thousands in India face a similar fate as a growing number of families abandon elderly relatives who have become victims of the stigma and misunderstanding surrounding the pandemic.
More than 9.4 million people in India have been infected by the virus that has killed nearly 138,000 in the country.
About 53 per cent of fatalities are people older than 60, according to health ministry data, making them the most vulnerable group.
Mr Askari's charity rescued at least 20 elderly people who were disowned by their children and relatives. Another 30 were rescued by Hyderabad Police.
Experts say it is not only the virus that is posing a challenge to the country's elderly population, but increased social, financial and emotional mistreatment.
From widespread discrimination in the treatment of older patients in overwhelmed hospitals, to the refusal of families to perform last rites for those who died of Covid-19, the pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of being elderly in India.
Staff at a government-run Covid-19 care centre in western Pune city are among those dealing with a spate of abandoned elderly people.
A 77-year-old patient was stranded at the hospital for more than a month after his son refused to take him home, claiming his father would not receive proper care.
Doctors said the son was dodged them for weeks.
"The fear of an increase in the caregiving burden due to dependency, and loss of livelihood due to the pandemic, has pushed the youth to such behaviour," said Dr Radha Murthy, managing trustee of Nightingales Medical Trust in Bangalore, a group that has rescued at least 18 elderly women since April.
She said families were worried other relatives would become infected, especially grandchildren.
India has more than 100 million people above the age of 60 and the number is expected to surpass 300 million in the next three decades, according to a government census from 2011.
But mistreatment of the elderly is a deep-rooted problem that predates coronavirus.
"We have been dealing with cases of abandonment and abuse for many years. The old people are subjected to not only physical abuse but neglect, verbal and financial abuse, like forcefully taking away their properties," Sonali Sharma, head of communications at HelpAge India told The National.
Decades of government efforts in disease eradication, poverty alleviation, sanitation and health awareness have led to an increase in India’s average life expectancy from 48 years in 1970 to 69 in 2020.
But the lack of a robust social security system and health initiatives remain the main challenge to increasing quality of life.
More than 70 per cent of the elderly in India are fully or partially dependent on their families for financial support, according to 2017 government figures, making many a burden on their children and relatives
In some cases that can lead to abuse.
India imposed one of the world’s strictest lockdowns from March until May, leaving tens of millions of people out of work and hampering their ability to feed their families, including elderly relatives.
The crisis triggered a sense of apathy towards older relatives, leaving some in desperate circumstances.
"The condition of old-age people is disturbing. Children are abandoning their parents as they migrate to other cities to earn a living," said Shiv Pratap, a field co-ordinator with Agewell Foundation, a group in Delhi that distributes protective equipment and food to 400 elderly people in city slums every week.
“These old-age people have neither money nor means to stay safe during the pandemic."
The problem was further exacerbated by a government measure that banned over-65s from travelling for non-essential work, making them rely on their families for the smallest requirements, including grocery shopping.
The restrictions meant many were disconnected from society, triggering heightened feelings of loneliness, anxiety and depression in some cases.
A study by HelpAge India showed that the elderly were the group worst affected by the pandemic.
Of the 5,000 people aged over 60 featured in the survey, 65 per cent said their livelihood was affected by the pandemic.
A similar amount suffered from chronic ailments including asthma, hypertension and diabetes, making them highly vulnerable to financial and health risks.
“When Covid happened everything came to a standstill for them,” Ms Sharma said.
“For those whose children were migrant labourers, their money stopped during the lockdown and at the end of the day, the elderly got affected most because they have food and medical needs."
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate
Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
Profile
Name: Carzaty
Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar
Launched: 2017
Employees: 22
Based: Dubai and Muscat
Sector: Automobile retail
Funding to date: $5.5 million
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday Benevento v Atalanta (2pm), Genoa v Bologna (5pm), AC Milan v Torino (7.45pm)
Sunday Roma v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Udinese v Napoli, Hellas Verona v Crotone, Parma v Lazio (2pm), Fiorentina v Cagliari (9pm), Juventus v Sassuolo (11.45pm)
Monday Spezia v Sampdoria (11.45pm)
RESULTS
Lightweight (female)
Sara El Bakkali bt Anisha Kadka
Bantamweight
Mohammed Adil Al Debi bt Moaz Abdelgawad
Welterweight
Amir Boureslan bt Mahmoud Zanouny
Featherweight
Mohammed Al Katheeri bt Abrorbek Madaminbekov
Super featherweight
Ibrahem Bilal bt Emad Arafa
Middleweight
Ahmed Abdolaziz bt Imad Essassi
Bantamweight (female)
Ilham Bourakkadi bt Milena Martinou
Welterweight
Mohamed Mardi bt Noureddine El Agouti
Middleweight
Nabil Ouach bt Ymad Atrous
Welterweight
Nouredine Samir bt Marlon Ribeiro
Super welterweight
Brad Stanton bt Mohamed El Boukhari
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
The Bio
Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride
She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.
Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years
Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves
She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in
The Laughing Apple
Yusuf/Cat Stevens
(Verve Decca Crossover)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh960,000
Engine 3.9L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Power 661hp @8,000rpm
Torque 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.4L / 100k
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Brief scores:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
