Cabinet approves Senior Citizens Bill | Fusion - WeRIndia

To provide basic needs to senior citizens and to improve their safety and security, the Union Cabinet approved the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2019.

The Bill would be presented before the Parliament as Cabinet approved it.

The government proposed to make several amendments to the Bill. So far, there is a ceiling of ₹10,000 as maintenance towards the welfare of parents. The Bill proposes to remove the ceiling. Those who earn more should provide more maintenance to their parents.

It also seeks to amend the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizen Act, 2007.

The Bill proposes to prescribe certain standards for senior citizen care homes to be maintained by them. And the registration of such homes for senior citizens or home care services to elderly people is likely to be mandatory.

The Bill is aimed to provide maintenance and welfare of parents and senior citizens and make sure to recognize their rights as per the Constitution.

Every police station would have nodal officers for senior citizens. Setup of district-level special police unit for senior citizens and helpline for them are other notable features of the Bill.

The dedicated helpline would redress the grievances of the elderly people.

A maintenance tribunal would also be set up for them to seek justice for the negligence of their children.

The Bill has the provisions to accuse sons-in-law and daughters-in-law if they fail to look after their elderly in-laws and provide monthly maintenance to them.

The Bill also has a provision to give preference to the applications of senior citizens above the age of 80 years if they lodge a complaint against their children for non-payment of maintenance and negligent attitude.

The violators will be fined with a minimum amount of ₹5,000 or be imprisoned for three months or punished with both.

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