UP adopts national policy for senior citizens

"The government has adopted the act under which parents and senior citizens have been given legal right of maintenance," said Samajwadi Party spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary.

As per the 'Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007', children of a senior citizen have the obligation to maintain a senior citizen so that they could lead "normal life".

If the elderly person is childless, the onus for his maintenance will lie on the relative who is in possession of his property or who would inherit his property. The maximum monthly allowance will be specified by state government.

Under the act, provision of constituting a maintenance authority under the chairmanship of sub-divisional magistrate has been made, Chaudhary said.

He said under the Act parents and senior citizens would have the right to get maintenance of maximum Rs 10,000 per month and district welfare officer would be nominated as maintenance officer.

The spokesman said along with the setting up of old age homes, medical services would be provided to senior citizens in the hospitals on priority.

He said that the government has launched Rani Laxmibai pension scheme in which people living below poverty line would get a monthly pension of Rs 400 payable in two half yearly instalments.