Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Amendment Bill

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3-Aug-2021: Schemes for Senior Citizens

The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 (MWPSC) recognises the right of the senior citizens to live a life of dignity. The Act provides for financial security to the parents and senior citizens and can award maintenance to the parents if they are not properly cared for. The Act also has provision of punishment with imprisonment upto three months or fine of up to Rs. 5000/- or both for children or relatives, who abandon senior citizens. All the States/UTs have notified the MWPSC Act, 2007 and have taken consequential steps like appointment of Maintenance officers, Maintenance Tribunals and Appellate Tribunals.

The existing National Policy on Older Persons (NPOP) was announced in 1999 to reaffirm the commitment of the Government to ensure the wellbeing of the older persons. Keeping in view the changing demographic pattern, socioeconomic needs of the senior citizens, social value system and advancement in the field of science and technology over the last decade, a new National Policy for Senior Citizens is under finalization to replace the National Policy for Older Persons 1999.

20-Nov-2019: Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Amendment Bill

The proposed ‘Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Amendment Bill’ has the following major salient features:

  1. Definition of "children" and ‘parents’ has been expanded.
  2. Definition of ‘maintenance’ and ‘welfare’ has been expanded.
  3. Mode of submission of application for maintenance has been enlarged.
  4. Ceiling of Rs.10,000/- as maintenance amount has been removed.
  5. Preference to dispose of applications of senior citizens, above eighty years of age, early has been included.
  6. Registration of Senior Citizens Care Homes/Homecare Service Agencies etc. have been included.
  7. Minimum standards for senior citizen care homes has been included in the Bill.
  8. Appointment of Nodal Police Officers for Senior Citizens in every Police Station and District level Special Police Unit for Senior Citizens has been included.
  9. Maintenance of Helpline for senior citizens has been included.

Consultation/comments on the draft bill have been obtained from the concerned stakeholders such as Central Ministries/Departments/State Governments/UT Administrations/Members of the Civil Societies etc.