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| J&K Govt extends its indifference to Old and infirm | | Seven years on, Parents and Senior Citizens Act not extended to state | | Abodh Sharma
Jammu, Oct 5: At a time when the entire world, including India was observing International Day for the Elderly People on October 1 and reiterating its resolve to look after the older people of our society, the elderly in Jammu and Kashmir were ruing the apathy and indifference of the successive governments towards them.
It is deplorable that while our legislators have enhanced their salaries and perk twice in as many years in one voice, they have not cared for the implementation of the central legislation that ensures maintenance of the elderly people by their children and grand children in J&K since 2007.
"The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 was passed by the Parliament and ascended to by the President of India on December 31, 2007, but almost seven years since then, the law makers and the state governments have not cared to allow the implementation of the benevolent act in the state even though it involved no financial or political implication," said Tejvir Singh, a social activist.
The Act seeks to make it a legal obligation for children and heirs to provide maintenance to senior citizens. It also permits state governments to establish old age homes in every district. Senior citizens who are unable to maintain themselves shall have the right to apply to a maintenance tribunal seeking a monthly allowance from their children or heirs. State governments may set up maintenance tribunals in every sub-division to decide the level of maintenance. Appellate tribunals may be established at the district level. State governments shall set the maximum monthly maintenance allowance. The Bill caps the maximum monthly allowance at Rs 10,000 per month. Punishment for not paying the required monthly allowance shall be Rs 5,000 or up to three months imprisonment or both.
The Jammu and Kashmir government has been indifferent to the security, healthcare and maintenance needs of the elders whose number is increasing due to the present generations shifting to the metro cities of the country and abroad in search of greener pastures. The old age homes have been poorly maintained and the grants of the social welfare department are pathetically inadequate.
India's success in increasing life expectancy has led to a larger number of the elderly in the country. The Registrar General of India forecasts the share of older persons (age 60 years and above) in the total population to rise from 6.9% in 2001 to 12.4% in 2026. Issues related to the financial and social security of older people will become increasingly important.
Strangely, the State Government has been indifferent to several Central Legislations like Right to Education, Food Security Act and has not cared to implement them in the state despite their far reaching ramifications for the welfare of the citizens. |
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