Haryana notifies action plan for protection of senior citizens

Haryana Government has notified an action plan for the protection of life and property of senior citizens in the State.Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Kavita Jain on Friday said that the action plan has been framed as per the provisions of Section 22(2) of Haryana Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizen Act, 2007 and Rule 24 of Haryana Maintenance of Parents and Senior Citizen Rules, 2009.

According to the 2011 census, the population of senior citizens in Haryana is around 8.6 per cent of the total population of 2.54 crores.The Minister said that as per the action plan, the Senior Superintendent of Police or Superintendent of Police of district concerned shall take all necessary steps, subject to such guidelines as the State Government may issue from time to time, for the protection of life and property of senior citizens.

Each police station shall maintain an up-to-date list of senior citizens living within its jurisdiction, especially those who are living by themselves i.e. without there being any member in their household who is not a senior citizen. A representative of the police station together, as far as possible, with a social worker or volunteer, shall visit such senior citizens at regular intervals of at least once a month, and shall, in addition, visit them as quickly as possible on receipt of a request of assistance from them.

Jain said that complaints or problems of senior citizens shall be promptly attended to by the local police. Volunteers Committees shall be formed for each Police Station which shall ensure regular contact between the senior citizens, especially those living by themselves.Each Police Station shall maintain a separate register containing all important particulars relating to offences committed against senior citizens. Also, the Police Station shall send a monthly report of such crimes to the Senior Superintendent of Police or Superintendent of Police of district concerned by the 10th of every monthThe Minister said that community policing for the security of senior citizens will be undertaken in conjunction with citizens living in the neighborhood, residents welfare associations, youth volunteers and non-government organizations.

The SSP or SP concerned shall submit to the Director General of Police and District Magistrate concerned, a monthly report by the 20th of every month, about the status of crime against senior citizens during the previous month.If the District Magistrate is of opinion that any son or daughter or legal heir of a senior citizen or parents are in unauthorized occupation of any property and that they should be evicted, the District Magistrate shall provide a notice in writing calling upon all persons concerned to show cause as to why an order of eviction should not be issued against them or him/ her.

Jain added that the DM of the concerned district shall forward a monthly report of such cases to Director General, Social Justice and Empowerment Department by seventh of the following month for review of such cases in the State Council for Senior Citizens.