An advocate commission constituted by the Madras High Court bench here has submitted a report recommending establishment of an old age home by the Madurai district administration and involve students in creating awareness of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, among the public.
The three-member commission submitted the report on a public interest litigation filed by K. Ramprabhu, an advocate, seeking proper implementation of the Act in Tamil Nadu.
On the directions of the court, a meeting was conducted by Collector L. Subramanian on January 4, 2014, attended by the advocate commissioners, Joint Director of Collegiate Education Seetha Lakshmi; Government Rajaji Hospital Dean N. Mohan; Social Welfare Officer R. Anandhavalli; Superintendent of Police V. Balakrishnan; and Deputy Commissioner of Police Samrat Rohan Narendran.
According to the advocate commissioners, they submitted their observations on the more than 25 unregistered old age homes functioning in Madurai. As per Section 19 of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, the State should establish at least one old age home in every district to accommodate a minimum of 150 indigent senior citizens. Madurai did not have any State-established old age home, they said.
Relying on data provided by the district administration and the police, the advocate commissioners said about 50,000 old age pensioners lived in the district.
No case had been registered in the police stations against any person for abandoning senior citizens under Section 24 of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007. Abandoning senior citizens, as per the Act, was a cognizable offence punishable with three months imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 5,000, they submitted.
In their report, the advocates recommended establishment of an old age home by the district administration in at least three acres of land in the city. The State government should be directed to provide adequate funds for the construction of the home which can accommodate 150 indigent senior citizens, they said.
Geriatric specialistsFurther, specialists should be appointed in the GRH to treat geriatric patients and adequate infrastructure provided, they recommended. The advocates also advanced the suggestion for a mobile geriatric unit to rescue abandoned senior citizens and provide treatment in the GRH.
According to the advocate commissioners, a 24-hour helpline should be launched to help destitute senior citizens and the district administration should issue identification cards to the abandoned senior citizens after a detailed survey.
A Division Bench comprising Justices R. Sudhakar and V.M. Velumani have posted the case on January 23 for further hearing.
