The Hindu : National : Jail for children who abandon parents

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 07, 2007
ePaper

National

National

Jail for children who abandon parents

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Parliament on Thursday gave approved the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Bill, 2007, providing for three months’ imprisonment for those who abandon their parents. It gives no scope for appeal against the punishment.

“The Bill provides for three months jail term if children do not look after their old parents. The penal provision is meant to act as a deterrent,” Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar told the Rajya Sabha that passed the Bill by voice vote. The Lok Sabha has already passed the Bill.

Replying to the debate, Ms. Kumar said children cannot go in for appeal. This was done deliberately as they had a lot of resources which the old people did not have.

The statement of objects of the Bill states that though parents could claim maintenance under the Cr.PC, the procedure is both time-consuming and expensive, and there was need to have simple, inexpensive and speedy provisions for care of parents. The Bill has a clause for punishing those who abandon their parents or relatives whose property they had inherited or would get as their legal heirs.

Old age homes

The Bill provides for setting up a tribunal in each district for helping the old in distress. It has a provision for establishment of old age homes which, Ms. Kumar said, should be the last resort for the poor and childless.

“Social challenge”

The Bill states that due to withering of the joint family system, a large number of elderly were not being looked after by their families.

Consequently, many older persons, particularly widows, were forced to spend their twilight years all alone and exposed to emotional neglect and lack of physical and financial support.

“This clearly reveals that old age has become a major social challenge and there is need to give more attention to the care and protection of older persons,” she said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National