Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI: Parliament on Thursday gave approved the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Bill, 2007, providing for three months’ imprisonment for those who abandon their parents. It gives no scope for appeal against the punishment.
“The Bill provides for three months jail term if children do not look after their old parents. The penal provision is meant to act as a deterrent,” Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar told the Rajya Sabha that passed the Bill by voice vote. The Lok Sabha has already passed the Bill.
Replying to the debate, Ms. Kumar said children cannot go in for appeal. This was done deliberately as they had a lot of resources which the old people did not have.
The statement of objects of the Bill states that though parents could claim maintenance under the Cr.PC, the procedure is both time-consuming and expensive, and there was need to have simple, inexpensive and speedy provisions for care of parents. The Bill has a clause for punishing those who abandon their parents or relatives whose property they had inherited or would get as their legal heirs.
Old age homes
The Bill provides for setting up a tribunal in each district for helping the old in distress. It has a provision for establishment of old age homes which, Ms. Kumar said, should be the last resort for the poor and childless.
“Social challenge”
The Bill states that due to withering of the joint family system, a large number of elderly were not being looked after by their families.
Consequently, many older persons, particularly widows, were forced to spend their twilight years all alone and exposed to emotional neglect and lack of physical and financial support.
“This clearly reveals that old age has become a major social challenge and there is need to give more attention to the care and protection of older persons,” she said.
Source: The Hindu
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"......due to withering of the joint family system, a large number of elder were not being looked after by their families". Unfortunately, I suspect this quote will be repeated many more times as modern society affect the old cultural ethos of "close knit family". As such, civic leaders, politicians should start preparing as the wave of baby boomers continue to join the rank of seniors requiring assistance and specialized services.
Jail terms for children who abandoned their parents, may seem harsh in some countries. Some may even see it as a "band-aid" approach, but it is at least a start to stopping the increasing elderly been virtually 'thrown-out" by their children. Those same children who often stand to inherit assets from their parents.
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