Delhi: Elderly people in the national
capital can now hope for better maintenance by their families
as Delhi government on Thursday opened nine tribunals to address
grievances of senior citizens relating to their well being.
The tribunals will ensure compliance of provisions of
Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act,
2007 which provides for compulsory maintenance and welfare of
senior citizens by their families.
Launching the tribunals on the occasion of
international day for older person here, Chief Minister Sheila
Dikshit said her government will implement the provisions of
the Act to ensure quality of life of senior citizens.
"It is a big step forward to offer a better life to
the elderly people in the city," she said.
Dikshit said the nine Maintenance Tribunals would be
functioning from nine Revenue Districts and each tribunal
would have a chairman and two members.
Officials said senior citizens facing ill treatment
can now approach these tribunals they will have the power to
invoke penal provisions against the children or relatives who
fail to take good care of the elders.
As per provisions of the act, sons and daughters who
have abandoned their parents or ill treated them could face
imprisonment of up to three months or a fine of Rs 5,000 or
both.
Dikshit said the tribunals would meet twice in a week
and address the grievances and various problems related to
senior citizens.
She informed that her government is considering
opening more tribunals in each sub-division of the capital.
The Act provides for compulsory maintenance,
protection and welfare of parents and senior citizens so that
they could lead a secure life of dignity, peace and security
for them.
She said the Act would guide her government to
undertake welfare measures for its aged citizens, which
includes establishing old age homes, providing medical support
and taking measures for protecting their life and property,
which includes sensitisation and public awareness.
Dikshit exhorted all the stakeholders, the elderly,
their heirs, and all relevant governmental agencies to come
together to bring in a new era of happiness, hope and purpose
in the lives of parents and senior citizens.
Social Welfare Minister M R Singhal said the Delhi
government is providing Rs 1,000 monthly pension to the senior
citizens above 60 years of age.
The Delhi government is running 18 recreation centres
for the senior citizens and Dikshit said 50 more recreation
centres would be constructed in the coming years.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, October 01, 2009, 21:02