NEW DELHI : The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the introduction in Parliament of a bill to promote the interests of senior citizens and to ensure that children take care of their elderly parents.

A salient feature of the bill is that it would provide for setting up of tribunals at sub-divisional levels in each district to settle grievances of the elderly against their children.

Tribunals' powers

The tribunals would have powers to even take suo moto action against children, who do not take proper care of their elderly parents.

The Bill would also provides for imprisonment of up to three months and a fine of up to Rs. 5,000 for those who abandon their parents.

It also provides for elderly parents to revoke their will and take back properties they might have given to their children as gifts.

Further, it would require State Governments and Union Territories to prepare comprehensive plans to provide for better medical care and other facilities for senior citizens and sensitise the police on the need for proper protection of their life and property.

As per the Bill, States would have to provide separate outpatient departments for senior citizens, expand the facilities for treatment of chronic, terminal and degenerative diseases.

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