Ravindranath Shanbhag, president of the Human Rights Protection Foundation (HRPF), said on Monday that he would not accept the Rajyotsava Award as a mark of protest against the “lackadaisical implementation” of the Maintenance and Protection of Senior Citizens Act in the State
He told The Hindu that many senior citizens have approached him and the HRPF seeking help in their cases, most of which are related to property dispute. The sad state of affairs can be gauged from the fact that of the 23 senior citizens who approached the HRPF for help, eight have passed away while waiting for the implementation of tribunal orders passed in their favour. “I have approached the Ministers and bureaucrats, but nothing is happening on this front,” Dr. Shanbhag said.
He said the administrative machinery was passive to cases falling under the Act. “This has disheartened me. Besides, I learnt the fact that I have been chosen for the Rajyotsava Award from the media. I have still not received any official invitation for receiving the award. When they officially invite me, I will ask them about the lack of action on the Maintenance and Protection of Senior Citizens Act,” he said.
