Elderly MP breaks down venting feelings over parents care Bill

New Delhi, Dec 6 (UNI) The Rajya Sabha today witnessed some emotional scenes when elderly members dwelt over the helplessness and loneliness the old age brings, with one of them breaking down while giving vent to his feelings.

''Things have come to such a pass now that the old would have to petition the Government for care and help. What kind of a life that would be !,'' said Mr Gyan Prakash Pilania, the BJP member from Rajasthan, who initiated the discussion on the The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Bill,2007 and could not help crying.

In country like India which had a great tradition of repect and love for the old, it was a sign of degradation of its civilisation that a law was required to be enforced to ensure that children took care of their parents, said Mr Pilania.

Recalling the country's old stories of the sacrifice and self-effacing service of Srawan Kumar to his parents and unquestioned obedience of Lord Ram to even his step mother Kaikeyi, he said it was really disheartening to see that a country that produced those men should worry finding ways and means to take care of its old.

He, however, said it was beter late than never and hoped that the Bill would become more useful with Members' suggestions. He also urged the Government to incorporate some of the Standing Committee recommendations that have not been included in the Bill.

Taking part in the discussion, Leader of the Shiv Sena in the House Ekanath Thakur said he could very well understand the worth of parents and elderly because he lost both his parents at the age of two, and at the age of seven he was working as a help at a having no one to help him in his education.

He said the situation of the elderly in his state of Maharashtra was a cause of concern, and the Minister deserved congratulations for bringing in such a Bill.

Independent Member Tarlochan Singh, who opposed the Bill saying it would serve no practical purpose, expressed concern over the deterioration of values that had led to the present situation.

''In fact we have taken away all moral elements from the school syllabus. Where are those good stories that inspired children to become good human being. Those stories have been scrapped from the syllabus and replaced by teaching of science and mathematics in the name of competition,'' he said.

UNI