They stared at an uncertain future when they arrived at the Nedumangad Municipal Town Hall on Thursday. The group of elderly people, however, left the venue of the Maintenance Tribunal Adalat with renewed hope. All of the 63 cases taken up at the adalat were disposed of.
The adalat was conducted by a group of officials led by the presiding officer of the District Maintenance Tribunal and Subcollector Divya S. Iyer. The tribunal has been set up under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.
Opportunity for reconciliation
According to Dr. Iyer, the hearing in the cases could be expedited since the departments concerned had furnished the reports of the preliminary probes prior to the adalat. The programme also provided opportunity for reconciliation measures.
She pointed out that the adalat provided an opportunity for the complainants to understand the problems faced by the other families who participated in the grievance redressal programme.
D.K. Murali and K.S. Sabarinadhan, MLAs, interacted with the senior citizens and comforted them. A medical camp was conduced by the National Health Mission for the attendees.
The meeting was the second one to be organised by the District Maintenance Tribunal. At the previous one held at East Fort a few months ago, around 100 petitions were taken up for hearing.
