Senior citizens, who are not taken care of by their families, will now have the district administration to turn to for help. The State Government has established district-level committees to help senior citizens in distress.
As per rules the State Government has notified that the committees will have to follow the Maitenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2011 and Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.
The act stipulates that the Government should ensure that children of senior citizens, the next of kin or heirs take care of their welfare.
In the case of childless or senior citizens with no relatives, the Government will have to help in maintenance.
The district bodies ensure the hearing of complaints filed by senior citizens in the State.
While each complaint is registered with the Revenue Division Officer at first, an appeal can be filed before the Joint Collector of each of the districts.
The district level committees advise on “effective and coordinated implementation of the Act at the district level”, read a government order issued in May.
For the past two months each of the districts including Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy had established Senior Citizen Committees. The committees also oversee maintenance of old age homes in the State.
To avoid delay in the establishment of District Committees, the Government has delegated power to the District Collectors.
“We have several cases where senior citizens, who have suffered under the negligence of relatives have complained. Most cases are resolved at the Joint Collector level,” said M. Prashanti, Joint Collector Hyderabad.
The Committees are under the monitoring of Director, Welfare of Disabled and Senior Citizens Department, Hyderabad. Senior citizens, who are eligible for government sponsored benefits in health care including medical insurance, too approach appellate authorities for aid.
Most important concern that affects senior citizens in the State is lack of property and wealth.
While each of the districts is expected to have at least one home, most of them are not maintained. Most are also overcrowded. Senior citizens committees are expected to raise awareness through advocacy camps.
They are also expected to introduce helpline and support networks for the elderly. A drive to sensitise the younger generation on ethical values will also be conducted as part of senior citizen support.
There are over 100 million elderly people in the country which is now known as a young democracy.
