Gift to elderly on their International Day

Some hope for the elderly on International Day of Older Persons. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Thursday inaugurated nine tribunals to address grievances of senior citizens.

Some hope for the elderly on International Day of Older Persons. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Thursday inaugurated nine tribunals to address grievances of senior citizens.

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The tribunals will function from nice revenue districts and ensure that provisions of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, are followed.

The Act makes it compulsory for families to take proper care of senior citizens.

It also says sons and daughters who have abandoned or ill-treated their parents are liable to face a jail term of up to three months or a fine of Rs 5,000, or both.

Officials said elderly people facing ill treatment at the hands of their children or relatives would now be able to approach these tribunals.

Dikshit said the tribunals would meet twice in a week. She said the government might open more such tribunals.

“It is a big step forward to offer a better life to the elderly people,” she said.

The Delhi government currently runs 18 recreation centres for senior citizens. 50 more such centres will come up in the coming years.

She said help desks for senior citizens have been set up in all government hospitals.

They are manned by volunteers who will help senior citizens avail hospital services.