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| Emulate Punjab for protecting interests of parents | | |
NIRBHAY JAMMUAL
More than any other state the trouble-torn Jammu and Kashmir needs adoption of maintenance of parents and senior citizens Act.Such an Act has already been adopted in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh but considering the problems created by 20- year long terrorism and the consequent migration of over 3.50 lakh Hindus from the Kashmir valley this border state requires a law which could protect parents and senior citizens against deprivation,isolation,maltreatment and the pains of penury.Take into account the plight of parents of the youth belonging to the Kashmiri displaced community.Besides being scattered all over the country a large number of qualified Pandit youhts have found gainful employment in different foreign lands,especially the USA,the UK,Australia,Canada and Germany.While they are engaged in minting money their parents suffer the pangs of isolation.Loss of their roots has given rise to diabetes,hypertension and Alzeimer.If one carries out a survey one will find a large number of elderly couples spending their days in desperation.There is nobody to look after them.Either their neighbours or their distant relations visit them to make them slightly comfortable and confident.
In the absence of sufficient number of old age homes those who need to be admitted in such homes cannot find space.And where the space is available the monthly charges are beyond the reach of the old people.The state Government is faced with resource crunch.It may not be possible for it to set up old age homes in each district where the foresaken parents and senior citizens could lead a peaceful life on the expenses of the Government.Hence Jammu and Kashmir state should emulate Punjab Government by adopting maintenance of parents and senior citizens Act.Once this Act could be adopted it will make it mandatory for wards of the old parents to either look after them or make suitable arrangements by way of engaging servants and by sending money to them for buying medicines and other necessaries of life.The wards can have no other alternative but to ensure proper care of their parents once the law provides for imprisonment and fine.
Militancy related violence has inflated the number of families who have lost their sons and bread winners.A large number of aged people have no one to look after them.The number of such families is the highest in the Kashmir valley.The Social Welfare Department has catalogued such unfortunate souls as destitutes entitling them to meagre pecuniary help.This is not enough.They need money to sustain their lives.More important is that they need someone to look after them.Assist them in every sphere of domestic chores.Law alone cannot help them because they have not been foresaken by their children.In fact their children have fallen to the bullets of militants and the security forces.Jammu and Kashmir has been one among a few states where people believed in the dignity of joint family system.In such a system one would not be plagued by isolation and deprivation.With increase in the disintegration in the joint family system the old age problems have become compounded.Imagine the fate of parents and senior citizens whose children are scattered in different parts of the country.Imagine the plight of those whose children are settled outside the country.The Government should adopt a piece of legislation which can force the youth to either take their parents to the area where they are in service or make suitable arrangements for their comfortable living.If this not done parents and senior citizens may start dying a dog's death,unheard,unwept,unsung
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