2 years on, State yet to notify Senior Citizens

2 years on, State yet to notify Senior Citizens

Sharadha Narayanan
First Published : 13 Oct 2009 03:32:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 13 Oct 2009 06:38:13 AM IST

CHENNAI: It has been more than two years since the Central government
passed the Maintenance and Welfare of Senior Citizens Act but the
State government is yet to notify it in its gazette.

Despite having the country's oldest CM and being home to over 77 lakh
senior citizens, who form 12 per cent of the State's population, the
State sleeps over the matter.

The Maintenance and Welfare of Senior Citizens Act, which empowers
senior citizens or parents to seek maintenance from legal heirs to
their property, calls for the establishment of a tribunal in every
district in every State to take up the problems and complaints of
senior citizens.

Senior citizens can, by this Act, seek maintenance for the purpose of
his or her food, shelter, clothes, medical facilities and recreation,
while the tribunal can punish those who forsake or ill-treat them.

Two years after its introduction, only six States in the country,
including Gujarat, Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tripura and West
Bengal, have notified the Act, along with the Union Territory of
Chandigarh.

Elders Federation, a Tamil Nadu-based NGO, will be meeting CM M
Karunanidhi soon, seeking quicker implementation of the Act.

"The Act calls for a district-level committee to be established for
the welfare of the senior citizens and yet, the State has not even
discussed the issue in the Assembly," says Sheelu, president, Women's
Collective. While speaking to Express, commissioner, Directorate of
Social Welfare, MP Nirmala, IAS said the Act is in the process of
being notified.

"We have been assured that there will be quicker action towards
implementation of the Act in the State. Senior citizens, however,
often do not prefer filing complaints against their kin," said Meryln
Freeda, deputy director, advocacy, HelpAge India.

Other demands by the Elders Federation include the need for a
multi-purpose ID card, increase of government pension to Rs 1,000 per
month, separate queues in public places for senior citizens,
concessions in bus fares and inclusion of lessons on 'Respect for
Elders' in school syllabus.
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30 Gruhalakshmi Colony Secunderabad 500015 Ph 040-27846631 / 9490804278
http://www.google.com/profiles/vyasamoorthy.

Geriatric wards to be set up at major hospitals (Hyderabad)

Geriatric wards to be set up at major hospitals

Chief Minister K Rosaiah receiving a copy of book on Geriatrics from
MLA P. Shankar Rao, who is also the president of Geriatric Society, at
the 13th annaul Geriatric conference, Hyderabad (Photo)
Express News Service
First Published : 01 Nov 2009 03:38:00 AM IST

HYDERABAD: Here is some good news for senior citizens. The State
Government plans to establish `geriatric wards' at all major hospitals
in the State.

This was revealed by Chief Minister K Rosaiah today during the 13th
annual national conference of Geriatric Society of India.

As it is not possible to establish wards in all the hospitals of the
State, the Government plans to establish them at least in major
hospitals.

He also recalled that most of the senior citizens Below Poverty Line
(BPL) are covered under Arogyasri.

Participating in the event Secenderabad Cantonment MLA, P Shankar, who
is also an alumni of Gandhi Medical College, proposed to Rosaiah to
introduce bachelor and post-graduate geriatric courses in NTR Health
University.

According to Geriatric Society of India, life expectancy in India at
the time of Independence was 21 years and gradually it has increased
to 51 years.

Though Constitution guarantees care to elders but in reality it is not
implemented. P S Shankar, President of the Geriatric Society, said
there is a need for old-age homes especially in rural areas.
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HelpAge asks for changes in Senior Law

HelpAge asks for changes in SEnior Law.

JAIPUR: Removal of the mandatory 50% reservation for SCs and STs in
day-care centres, inclusion of NGOs and senior citizens in the state
council
and the setting up of tribunals to hear out their grievances are some
of the recommendations that Helpage India would shortly be making to
the state government.

The recommendations are to be incorporated in the Maitenance and
Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007. The Act was framed in
the state about two years ago to cater to senior citizens.

Harvinder S Bakshi, the national director of Helpage India said, "The
state already has a policy for the welfare of senior citizens. But
there are some areas that need to be fine tuned and these
recommendations are aimed at that."

Bakshi was in the city to take part in a seminar to review the
implementation of the policy on aged persons. Helpage India has been
organising similar seminars across the country to ensure effective
implementation of the policy.

"It is good that a reservation of 50% has been made for SCs and STs in
day care centres for old people. But it has been observed that more
often than not these places remain vacant as there are not so many
SC/ST applicants. Therefore, the mandatory quota must be removed so
that others can use these slots," said Bakshi.

"Similarly, in the state council of senior citizens, a body that has
representation from all departments of the government and is aimed at
helping out solve problems of senior citizens quickly, there must be
atleast 50 to 60% participation by NGOs and members of the civil
societies else the council would loose its relevance and function like
any other government body. Besides, the state is in the process of
finalising the composition of tribunals where any senior citizen who
is harassed by his inheritors can simply file an application for
redressal," he said.

The seminar in the morning saw principal secretary department of
Social Justice and Welfare Malvika Pawar apprised the gathering of the
rights of senior citizens. "However, the government alone cannot do
everything. It is necessary for all stake-holders to take part
actively," she said.

Pawar also revealed there are about 60 lakh senior citizens in
Rajasthan and that nine new oldage homes are in the offing taking the
total of such facilities to 18. She also spoke of the tax benefits
awarded for setting up such homes.

In the afternoon a technical session on the implementation of act was
held. Various suggestions that emerged from the session would be send
as recommendations to the government.
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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Bid-to-upgrade-senior-citizens-welfare-law/articleshow/5125335.cms
15th Oct 2009