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The Union Cabinet's nod to the introduction of a bill in Parliament to promote the interests of senior citizens is welcome. The proposal that seeks to make neglect of parents by children punishable is particularly significant. Many senior citizens are helpless and are forced to live in old age homes. Society should not tolerate such indifference.

R. Prahalad Rao,
Bangalore

While many youngsters cite reasons such as employment in other States or countries for not taking care of the aged, there are many who live in the same city as their parents but admit them in old age homes. The bill has come at the right time.

G. Kameswaran,
Chennai

Everyday there are reports of parents being ill-treated, irrespective of their physical condition. There are instances in which even their meagre savings are snatched away from them making their dependence on the young inevitable. The provision for parents to take back property given as gifts will make at least some youngsters take care of their parents in their old age.

G.S. Rama Rao,
Chennai

The root cause of the problem faced by senior citizens is migration of children necessitated by the changes in the economy and consequent breaking-up of the joint family system. The sons themselves live below the subsistence level. Since the individual acts of wilful negligence play only a small role, the law will at best have a cosmetic effect. The urgent need of the hour is the strengthening of social welfare network for senior citizens.

Manohar Alembath,
Chennai

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