The Tragic Discovery in Ghaziabad
Deepak Kumar Handu, a 69-year-old banquet hall worker, was found dead in his Ghaziabad apartment on January 11, approximately twelve days after his probable heart attack. His neighbours last saw him on the night before New Year's Eve, and his phone continued ringing until January 4, unanswered. Despite his sister's persistent calls and colleagues' single visit, no immediate alarm was raised, illustrating how easily isolated individuals can slip through social cracks.
A Dystopian Solution Goes Viral
In a stark parallel to Handu's story, an app named 'Are You Dead' surged to the top of Apple's paid app charts in China this January. The app's premise is simple yet poignant: users living alone check in daily by tapping a button; if they miss two consecutive days, an emergency contact is notified. With a one-time fee of 8 RMB (about Rs 100) and no subscription, it launched last summer but gained traction after a social media influencer's post.
In China, where one in five households is now single-person, this safety app resonates deeply. Its creator describes it as addressing a fundamental need in an increasingly solitary society, where many lack confidence that anyone would notice if something went wrong.
India's Growing Solitude
According to United Nations data, single-person households in India have risen from just over 3% in 1992 to 5% today. While this percentage might seem small, cases like Handu's underscore a hidden crisis of loneliness. Similar incidents have occurred across the country: in 2013, a 53-year-old woman was found starved to death in her Bengaluru bungalow five months post-mortem; in 2018, another woman in Bengaluru lay undiscovered for three weeks; and in 2023, a 73-year-old mother in Greater Noida was found dead after at least three weeks.
Shifting Social Values
The World Values Survey reveals a significant cultural shift in India over the past decades. In the early 1990s, fewer than 30% of Indians believed children should be taught independence; today, nearly 58% do. Concurrently, the emphasis on obedience has sharply declined. Yet, family bonds remain nearly universal, and the importance of friendships has increased. This evolution suggests that loneliness in India often stems not from family collapse but from its very structure—parents overly focused on family at the expense of broader social connections, and children who may not realize their absence after moving away.
Even in the early 1990s, more than one in five Indians reported feeling lonely or distant from others, a question no longer asked in recent surveys but whose reality persists.
Informal and Organised Support Systems
Many Indian households already employ informal check-in methods, such as elderly individuals posting daily good morning messages on WhatsApp groups. These messages serve as low-tech safety nets, signaling well-being through simple gestures like flower emojis or quotes.
When informal networks weaken, organised support becomes crucial. Startups like SaathiShift in Mangaluru provide companions for the elderly, assisting with documentation, appointments, and medication reminders. Hospitals, including Max Healthcare, offer services like Max@Home for professional caregivers.
Volunteer-Driven Initiatives
Most support systems rely heavily on volunteers. In Hyderabad, Senior Saathi pairs volunteers with elderly people for companionship and practical help. In Jamshedpur, local groups run helplines and WhatsApp networks for senior citizens, offering counselling and regular check-ins. Many users have families but feel unheard.
In Pune, volunteers spend time with the elderly or sick at home or in hospitals, providing updates to distant families. A panchayat in Kerala has established listening parlours in public parks, where older people can converse, sometimes with psychologists or legal experts, or during intergenerational gatherings.
Police Involvement in Elderly Care
Police departments in several cities have also stepped up. In Kolkata and Delhi, elderly residents can register for regular police check-ins, with officers sometimes delivering groceries or medicines. Uttar Pradesh police run an emergency response service (via 112) and a home check-in plan. Similar initiatives exist in Mumbai and Nagpur.
While these efforts do not eradicate loneliness, they ensure that when solitude turns perilous, someone notices and intervenes, potentially preventing tragedies like Deepak Kumar Handu's.
