Question : N WELFARE OF SENIOR CITIZENS

(a) whether the Government has taken note on desertion/ill treatment meted to the parents by their children in certain cases in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has taken action for maintenance of such parents/senior citizens;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the details of financial assistance made available and utilised for establishment of old age homes for the indigent senior citizens to various States and UTs during the last two years and the current year, year-wise and State-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI D. NAPOLEON)

(a) to (d): Instances of desertion/ ill treatment of parents by their children are reported in newspapers from time to time. The Government has enacted the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 in December 2007. The Act, inter-alia, makes maintenance of parents and senior citizens by children/ relatives obligatory and enforceable through tribunals. The Act comes into force in a State on such date as the State Government may appoint. States/ UTs which have notified the Act are required to inter-alia appoint Maintenance Officers and constitute Maintenance and Appellate Tribunals. So far, 22 States and all Union Territories have notified the Act.

(e): Presently, there is no scheme for providing financial assistance for establishment of old age homes for the indigent senior citizens. However, under the Ministry’s Scheme of Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP), financial assistance is provided to non- government organizations (NGOs) for running and maintenance of old age homes. A Statement showing State-wise amounts released and number of Old Age homes (OAHs) assisted during the last two years and the current year is at Annexure.