Shimla, December 17
The High Court today directed the state government to file a status report informing therein the steps taken by it for the opening of old-age homes in all districts.
During the course of hearing, the court asked the Principal Secretary (Social Justice amp; Empowerment), who was present before the court, whether the state is complying with the provisions of Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 on which the Advocate General replied on behalf of the Principal Secretary, that there are seven old-age centres in five districts and total number of inmates is 163, whereas the capacity is 200.
The Advocate General also stated on behalf of the Principal Secretary that the state has made a proposal to the Central Government for budgetary allocation, but the same is still in pipeline.
He further informed the court that till date the state has not adopted the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.
After hearing this, the court was shocked that even after a lapse of so many years, the state government has failed to open old-age homes in all the districts and by not adopting the 2007 Central Act and not complying with the 2001 state Act, the state government has not given proper attention to look after the old aged people in the state.
The court observed that ldquo;there are only 163 inmates which itself shows that the state government has old approach towards aged persons, whereas as per 2001 state Act it is need of the hour to open the old age homes and the object of both 2007 Central Act and 2001 state Act is to take care of old aged personsrdquo;.
The court further said, ldquo;There seems no mechanism in the state to meet the requirement of aged persons and until and unless centres are opened and confidence with the people at large is not built, the inmates would not come to the old age homes.rdquo;
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice L Narayana Swamy and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua passed this order on a petition filed by Vandana Mishra, regarding maintenance of old age homes under the provisions of Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 and also Himachal Pradesh Maintenance of Parents and Dependants Act, 2001, which requires establishment of old aged homes in each district and according to which the state has to provide all facilities to the old aged persons.
]]>Courtesy: Tribune News Service
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