NHRC seeks report on senior citizens' welfare

Taking note of the failure of the states and union territories to implement the "Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007", the NHRC Tuesday sent notices to them in this regard, seeking a report within six weeks.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) felt that the Act was not being executed "in its true spirit", leading to violation of human rights.

Hence, it advocated the need to have a full-time "maintenance officer" at the subdivision level as those entrusted with the work have no time.

Taking suo motu cognizance of the issue, the commission served notice to the chief secretaries and administrators on whether the governments have constituted maintenance and appellate tribunals, and old age homes, and has medical support been ensured to the senior citizens.

"Under the Act, the governments should also ensure that government hospitals or those funded by it provide beds for all senior citizens for treatment of chronic, terminal and degenerative disease," the NHRC said.