Kerala Government today said it would hold a high-level inquiry into the complaints of alleged ill-treatment of elderly people especially misbehaviour with women inmates at private old age homes in the state.
Expressing shock over reports in this regard, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed the state Assembly that stern action would be taken if these were found true.
Detailing the plight of senior citizens, Muneer said a recent study, carried out by some volunteers, had found out that even elderly women were sexually molested in some private old-age homes.
"It is really shocking. The issue is to be viewed with at most seriousness. So, a high level inquiry should be carried out into it," Vijayan said.
"The government will investigate the functioning of old age homes in the state and take stern action," he added.
Muneer, who was the Social Justice Minister in the previous UDF government, alleged that private old-age homes were mushrooming in the state and the number of people who abandon their parents at such shelters was on the rise.
"The government should take necessary steps to regulate such private firms," he said.
State Social Justice Minister K K Shylaja said the government would soon prepare a guideline to regulate private old age homes.
Quoting figures, she said there were 16 old age homes and 78 homes, including those for children, under the state government.
Nearly 17,000 inmates are at about 500 private old-age homes in the state, she added.
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