'Action Plan' to protect life, property of elderly

To protect the life and property of senior citizens, the Haryana government has implemented an 'Action Plan' to help the elderly to live with 'dignity' and free from any 'anxiety'.
Disclosing it here today on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons, a spokesman of Haryana Social Justice and Empowerment Department said the action plan for protection of life and property of the senior citizens has been notified and instructions for the same have been issued to the police stations, sub-divisional magistrates, superintendents of police and deputy commissioners.
In case the son or daughter or legal heirs' illegally occupy their (elderly persons) house or try to deprive them of their property, they can contact the officials concerned to get it vacated, he said, adding instructions have been issued to deputy commissioners to get such unauthorised possession removed within 21 days of submission of the application.

Police would also facilitate such senior citizens with the help of their neighbours, resident welfare associations, non-governmental organisations and volunteers, the spokesperson said.
Every police station would constitute a committee of volunteers to remain in touch with the senior citizens. The police stations would have a separate register to record cases of atrocities against parents and senior citizens. The report would be sent to the Superintendent of Police by 10th of every month and then be forwarded to the District Magistrate, he said.
If the District Magistrate is of the opinion that a son or a daughter or any legal heir of a senior citizen or parents is in unauthorised occupation of any property as defined in the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior citizens Act 2007, he would serve a notice in writing calling upon all persons concerned to show cause as to why an order of eviction should not be issued against them, the spokesman said.

In case parents or senior citizens have transferred their property to a heir and now they are neglecting them, he can apply to the tribunal of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate to withdraw or cancel the gift deed and he would get back the property, he said.

If parents or senior citizens are unable to maintain themselves with their income or the income received from the property, they have the right to get maintenance from their adult children or heirs, he said, adding it includes food, clothes, shelter and medical aid.
They can approach the tribunal of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate to seek assistance of up to Rs 10,000 per month, the spokesman said.

Those found neglecting parents can be imprisoned for three months or pay a fine of up to Rs 5,000 or both, he added.