Senior citizens, dumped, take to begging

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad, Oct 29: A division Bench comprising Chief Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta and Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar of the AP High Court on Monday admitted a public interest litigation by an NGO seeking a direction to the state government to implement the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.

The petitioner also sought a direction from the court to establish tribunals to deal with cases involving parents and senior citizens. Marripalem Helping Hands Seva Sangham, represented by its president K. Srinu of Visakhapatnam, filed the PIL submitting that Parliament had enacted the Act in 2007 and as per Section 7 of the Act the state government had to establish one or more tribunals for each sub-division to deal with cases of maintenance of parents, senior citizens and relatives by their children and grand children other than minors.

Mr Srinu pointed out that as per Section 19 of the Act, the state government had to establish one home in each district for the aged and at least 150 persons would be provided assistance in each home. While admitting the plea, the Bench directed the state government to spell out its stand on the PIL through a counter-affidavit within a week.

According to the petitioner, the state government had issued a notification on April 21, 2008 that the provision of the Act (Central Act No. 56 of 2007) would come into force.

On December 28, 2011 it had issued another notification framing the rules for implementation of the Act. However, till date the government has not established a single tribunal or old age home in the state, the petitioner complained.

He alleged that due to non-implementation of the Act, several old people were suffering and some had even taken to begging. The Act empowers the presiding officer of the Tribunal to award Rs 10,000 as maintenance to an aged person in case he or she approaches the tribunal seeking maintenance from their kith and kin.

As per the provisions of the Act, the district superintendent of police, and in the case of cities, the police commissioner, should take all necessary steps for the protection of life and property of senior citizens.