"We must do everything possible to ensure that our elders can lead a life of dignity, enjoy the best of medical attention, economic security as well as emotional stability," he said at a function here to celebrate 'international day of older persons'.
Mukherjee was referring to the findings of the 20 city survey conducted by HelpAge India which said that many elderly were abused for over five years and that majority do no complain to anyone in order to uphold the family honour.
"It is more shocking to learn that those surveyed described their sons and daughter-in-law as the primary abusers," the President said while expressing his "deep alarm and dismay" over the findings.
He said the survey has spoken of suffering disrespect, neglect, verbal abuse, physical abuse and emotional abuse. Worst of all, he said, the survey finds that most abuse is inflicted on those above 80 years.
"I hope these findings will serve as a wake-up call and goad each one of us to immediate action," he said at the function organised by HelpAge India.
Observing that majority of the elders are women, he said society should also recognise the dimension and address with appropriate measures problems about 58 per cent of the rural women who are widows.