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Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act
Why is it in the news ?
- A bill was introduced in Lok Sabha to amend an existing law concerning the welfare of senior citizens and parents.
- It seeks to expand some existing definitions such as maintenance, welfare, children and parents.
- The Bill amends the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.
More in the news
- Aim: To provide for the maintenance and welfare of parents and senior citizens for ensuring their basic needs, safety and security, establishment, management, and regulation of institutions and services, and rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
- Key Provisions of Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2019:
(1) It removes the ceiling of Rs10,000 as maintenance and includes the preference to dispose of applications of senior citizens, above 80 years of age.
(2) It proposes registration of senior citizens care homes and home care service agencies.
(3) It seeks to ensure that minimum standards are maintained at senior citizen care homes.
(4) It includes the appointment of nodal police officers for senior citizens at every police station and district-level special police unit with a helpline for senior citizens.
- Background:
(1) With more than 135 million elderly people, India today has the second-largest population of senior citizens.
(2) These elders deserve care and concern.
(3) The fast-paced and ever-changing life of today is continuously widening the gap between generations and thus the creation of a happy environment for the elderly is our traditional, moral, and legal responsibility.
Source
The Hindu, LiveMint.