The Punjab Government on Tuesday issued directions to ensure disposal of cases under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizen Act, 2007, within three months, besides speedy formulation of special policy for the old age people.
The state Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Razia Sultana, chairing the meeting of state council (raj parishad) formed for the care and welfare of old age people, reiterated the Government’s commitment to provide benefits of various development schemes besides the rights to the old age people.
She said that for the purpose, the committees at district levels have been constituted so as to ensure implementation of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizen Act, 2007, in the state.
“The implementation of the schemes, concerning the welfare of old age people apart from protection of their rights, is the responsibility of the state government which is in the process of soon coming out with a special policy under which it would be ensured to provide pension to the old age people at fixed time,” she said.
For the purpose, the Punjab Government has made a budgetary provision of Rs 1,158.67 crore for the 11,80,746 beneficiaries under the old age pension scheme this year, she added.
The Minister said that it has come to the government’s notice that the old age people are often harassed by their family members or children over the matters concerning their property, and due rights.
“For getting such grievances redressed within three months under the 2007 Senior Citizen Act, the old age people should depose before the district level committees but in most of such cases, the decisions are not being taken within the fixed time frame and for this, the directions have been given to the Deputy Commissioners of all the districts so as to ensure timely justice to old age people,” she said.
The police department has appointed for the welfare of old age people an IG-rank officer as nodal officer at the State level, DIG at range level and SP (D) at district level, she said.
Noting that the nodal officers are not holding meetings with the district level committees, the Minister directed the police department to make sure that the district police chiefs hold meetings at the regular intervals in order to resolve the issues concerned with the old age people as soon as possible.
The minister also directed the separate maintenance of the record of issues related with the old age people.
Detailing more, the minister disclosed that the Punjab Government has made recommendations to the Union Government for day-care centres and providing grant worth Rs 24,71,258 during the 2017-2018 to the five NGOs working for the welfare of the old age people.