Parents maintenance Bill in this session

The Cabinet is likely to take up tomorrow a Bill to give relief to parents abandoned by their children. The government plans to table the Bill in this session.

The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Bill, 2006, provides for punishment to those who do not take care of their dependent parents.

The Bill got the approval of the law ministry last week.

"After the Cabinet nod, the Bill will be put before the House in this session," sources in the social justice ministry told Business Standard.

The Bill makes children legally bound to provide health and social security to their parents.

Under the Bill, aggrieved parents, their friend or any relative can approach the tribunal, which will be headed by a sub-divisional officer and assisted by a conciliation officer.

The district magistrate will be the first and final appellate authority. The provisions of the Act will be executed by the district social welfare officer. Cases can also taken up suo motu.

An offender can be jailed for a month or for the period he does not provide for his parents. Abandoning of parents can lead to a jail term of up to three months, a fine of Rs 5,000, or both.

Officials say the aim of the Bill is to settle such cases without police and judicial intervention.

There have been consultations with the state governments, who have agreed to appoint officers under the Act. To date, only Himachal Pradesh has such a law.

The Bill also puts responsibility on the government for the welfare of senior citizens. It entrusts the government with the responsibility of setting up at least one old age home in each district. The initial cost of this is estimated to be Rs 700 crore.

"Each of these homes, to be set up with the help of NGOs, will house 150 people," a senior official said.

According to the 2001 census, around 7.6 crore people in the country are above 60. There are no figures of parents without any source of income.