Welfare Provisions for Senior Citizens

The Government has enacted the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 in December, 2007 which, inter-alia, makes maintenance of parents/ senior citizens by children/ relatives obligatory and justiciable through Tribunals; provides for revocation of transfer of property by senior citizens in case of negligence by children/relatives; penal provisions for abandonment of senior citizens; medical facilities for senior citizens; and protection of life and property of senior citizens. The Act has to be brought into force by individual State Governments. So far, all States and Union Territories have done so. It is not applicable to the State of Jammu & Kashmir, while Himachal Pradesh has its own Act for senior citizens.

Help Age India conducted a research in 20 cities in India in 2012 on elders abuse and the studies explored the nature and extent of abuse, main perpetrators of abuse, awareness on measures to prevent abuse etc. As per the findings of the study, it has, inter-alia, been reported that the police helplines and services are known to majority of respondents but were never used due to lack of trust or to maintain family honour.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri P. Balram Naik in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today. 

Source : PIB