URL ‐ http://www.thehindu.com/todays‐paper/tp‐national/tp‐tamilnadu/article2658611.ece
Today's Paper » NATIONAL » TAMIL NADU
Published: November 25, 2011.
Rules of senior citizens Act notified
Kavita Kishore
Government has to set up tribunal to hear cases of senior citizens to prevent inhuman treatment
meted out to parents and senior citizens, the Puducherry Government notified the rules of the
Maintenance of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, on October 27 this year.
The Act provides protection to parents and senior citizens, who have been ill-treated or
abandoned. It also ensures that they are given appropriate healthcare and maintenance to improve
their quality of life.
According to the rules of the Act, the government has to set up a tribunal that will have the
ability to hear the cases of parents/senior citizens who have problems with their children, as long
as they are not minors. In case the children are unwilling to take up the maintenance and care of
the parent/senior citizen, the tribunal also has the powers to demand an allowance for the parents
up to Rs. 10,000.
Speaking to The Hindu , a senior official from the Welfare Department said the government had
already appointed one of the officers from the Social Welfare Department as a Maintenance
Officer, who would take care of complaints from senior citizens. In case the parties were not
satisfied with the verdict of the maintenance officer, they could refer their cases to the tribunal.
The State had also set up an appellate tribunal, for appeals. The tribunal and the appellate
tribunal however, were not legal bodies, the officer said.
The government will also set up a State council of senior citizens headed by the Chief Secretary
to Government and including the Secretary to Government (welfare), specialists in senior citizen
welfare, three senior citizens and the director of social welfare. The committee would ensure that
the Act is being followed.
The Act also specifies that the government must set up old age homes with a minimum of 12 sq.
m of living area – including kitchen area, dining area, bedroom/dormitory and medical room –
per inmate. These homes are also directed to have toilet facilities for the physically challenged,
recreation facilities, television, and primary healthcare facilities and be provided with ramps,
handrails and lifts where necessary. In terms of admission of inmates to the old age homes, more
indigent and needy persons would be given preference. Women would also be given a
preference, and a separate women's dormitory must be set up in the homes. With regards to URL ‐ http://www.thehindu.com/todays‐paper/tp‐national/tp‐tamilnadu/article2658611.ece
protection of life and property of senior citizens, each police station has been directed to
maintain a list of senior citizens within their jurisdiction, with special care being taken for those
who are living by themselves. At least once a month, the police, along with a social worker or
volunteer, would visit every senior citizen on the list.
Each police station has also been directed to form a volunteer's committee to ensure regular
contact between the district administration and the senior citizens. They must also set up a list of
Dos and Don'ts to be followed by senior citizens in the interest of their safety.
Speaking to The Hindu , president of the Pondicherry Senior Citizens' Welfare Association S.V.
Iyer, said that even though there are laws that prevent abuse to senior citizens, there is very little
being done to ensure that they are enforced.
Dr P Vyasamoorthy, 30 Gruhalakshmi Colony Secunderabad 500015 Ph 040-27846631 / 9490804278. 
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