Elderly parents neglect: quick legal remedy soon

New Delhi, Sep 29 (UNI) Elderly parents will soon be provided a fast-track and cost-free legal remedy against neglect by their children.

They would just have just to complain to tribunals to be set up to consider and dispose of their claims for maintenance in a time-bound manner.

Lawyers will be barred from these proceedings of the tribunals, so that the elderly do not have to spend money for paying them.

Absence of lawyers will also expedite the cases.

The tribunals will be headed by an offcer of the rank of sub-divisional officer. District magistrate will be the appellate authority.

These provisions find place in a comprehensive legislation for ensuring care of the elderly by their children which is being drawn up by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Work on the legislation is going on a fast pace and it will be ready soon, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said here on the eve of the International Day of Older Persons.

Care of the elderly is one of the thrust areas of the Ministry identified by the Prime Minister's Office(PMO).

Besides the legal remedy against neglect, the proposed Bill also seeks to ensure better medical facilities to senior citizens, includes special provisions for protection of their life and property and setting up old age homes in each district for the destitute older persons.

The Ministry has already set up a National Council for Older Persons, headed by the Minister herself, to advise and aid the Government on policies and programmes for them and also to provide the feedback to it on the implementation of the National Policy for Older Persons.

It has also set up an inter-ministerial Committee headed by the Secretary for effective implementation of the Policy.

Besides, it also supports programmes for the welfare of the elderly through financial assitsance to NGOs under two the schemes.

Under Intergrated Programme for Older Persons, asistsnace up to 90 per cent of the cost is provided, and under the scheme of Assistance to Panchayati Raj Institutions/NGOs and Self-Help Groups for Construction of Old Age Homes/Multi-Service Centres for Older Persons, one time grant for such construction is given.

Other Ministries too give various concessions for senior citizens.

UNI NAZ VD BD1657