The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : ‘Bill on cards to protect the elderly’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

‘Bill on cards to protect the elderly’

–Photo: K. Ramesh Babu

For betterment: Union Minister for Social Justice Meira Kumar interacting with Irene Hoskins, president of IFA, in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

HYDERABAD: The Centre has formulated legislation to provide maintenance, care and protection to elderly persons and parents left behind by youngsters who have migrated in search of better opportunities.

This was announced here on Tuesday by Social Justice Minister Meira Kumar while inaugurating a two-day Asia-Pacific consultation on ageing on “Effective models of building capacity and the role of advocacy in ageing policy.” The consultation is being organised by the International Federation on Ageing in coordination with the city-based Heritage Hospital. She said Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Bill, 2007, sought to convert the moral obligation of taking care of parents into a statutory one. It also provided for better medicare, institutionalisation of a mechanism for protection of life and property of the elderly and setting up of old-age homes in every district. Ms. Kumar stressed the need for adopting a special package for elderly women and a separate one for persons above 75. Veena Chhotray, secretary, Social Justice, Irene Hoskins, president of the federation, spoke.

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