Tough Penal Provisions to Ensure Safety of Elderly
By Meira Kumar
September 30, 2008
Safeguarding the rights of the elderly is an issue of paramount concern today for all of us, therefore, to deter inhuman incidents against them by their families, we have included penal provisions such as jail for three months in case of abandoning them informed Smt. Meira Kumar, Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment on the fifth meeting of the National Council for Older Persons (NCOP) here today.
While sharing important and innovative initiatives taken during formulation of legislation in the field of welfare of elderly, the Minister said that the efforts have born fruit and ‘The Maintenance and Welfare of parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007’ has come in to effect from 31st December, 2007, for providing security and protection to the life and property of the senior citizens, as recognized under the Constitution. The main aim of the legislation is to create an enabling mechanism to make the claim for maintenance simpler, speedier and cheaper. Thus, it provides for the establishment of tribunals presided by an officer not lower in rank than the Sub-Divisional Officer (civil). The District Magistrate Level Officer will be the appellate authority.
Some of these projects are running of Day Care Centres for Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia Patients; Physiotherapy clinics for older persons; Disability and hearing aids for older persons; Mental health care and Specialized care for the Older Persons; Help-lines and Counseling Centre for the Older persons; Sensitizing programmes for children particularly in Schools and Colleges; Regional Resources and Training Centres; and Formation of Vridha Sanghas/Senior Citizen Association.
Abridged
SOURCE: Press Release India Government
----------------------------------------------------
More Recent Posts from Spotlight on Elder Abuse
No comments:
Post a Comment