Spiritual leader and founder of One World One Family Mission Sadhguru Sri Madhusudan Sai has emphasised on the need for India to develop stronger social support systems for elderly people and those battling serious, life-threatening illnesses.

Responding to questions from singer Vijay Prakash and members of the audience at the ‘Divya Sanje’ interaction programme in Mysuru on Saturday (September 5), he said a family could be pushed into a crisis when its sole earning member falls seriously ill. 

“If the only earning member of a family is diagnosed with a serious illness, the entire family can be affected. The mother may be left in a helpless situation, with no means to manage the situation,” he said. 

In such circumstances, society as a whole should come forward and support families in distress, he said.

He pointed out that India does not have adequate financial support systems for people facing such situations. 

In the U.S., he said, there are schemes that provide financial assistance of up to $5,000 a month for the treatment and care of elderly people and those suffering from serious illnesses. Similar support systems exist in Japan and several European countries, he said.

“Our governments also need to start thinking seriously about such support systems,” he said.