Laws protecting the old people
In Dec 2007, A law
was passed by Parliament, according to which Indians who neglect their ageing
parents could be jailed. The government said that the law was passed as a large
number of elderly are mistreated in the country.
The Government of India approved the National Policy for
Older Persons on Jan 13, 1999 in order to accelerate welfare measures and
empowering the elderly in ways beneficial for them.
This policy included the following major steps:
(i) Setting up of
a pension fund for ensuring security for those persons who have been
serving in
the unorganized sector
(ii) Construction of old age homes and day care centers
for every 3-4 districts,
(iii) Establishment of resource centers and
re-employment bureaus for people above 60 years,
(iv) Concessional rail/air fares for travel within and
between cities, i.e., 30% discount in train
and 50% in Indian Airlines.
(v) Enacting legislation for ensuring compulsory
geriatric care in all the public hospitals.
In spite of
several laws in place, the reality is that elderly people are the most ignored
and harassed ones in the society. On International Day of Older Persons also
known as World Elders Day, which is observed on Oct 1 every year, there is a
need to sensitize the younger generation to love and respect their elders.
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