Elderly need not suffer anymore

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, September 12

To ensure effective implementation of the Maintenance and Welfare of Senior Citizens Act-2007, the Sirmaur Deputy Commissioner on Wednesday constituted subdivisional-level tribunals to redress the grievances of elderly persons.

Deputy Commissioner Lalit Jain said the tribunals would be headed by Subdivisonal Magistrates (SDMs), who had been designated as the presiding officers, as per the provisions of the Act. “The tribunals will be held on the last day of every month, where all cases pertaining to the elderly will be addressed. In case, there is a holiday on the last day, these will be held a day before, the DC said.

The endeavour, which is the first of its kind in the state, will provide respite to the elderly, who have nobody to look after them.

Senior citizens can hand over their complaints pertaining to lack of maintenance by their children to tehsildars, either orally or in writing, and it will presented before the tribunal every month.

No fee will be charged for filing such complaints and it will not be mandatory for a complainant to visit the tribunal during the hearing. He/she will be communicated about the proceedings by the tribunal.

Each complaint will be addressed in a time-bound manner, where the tehsildar will be liable to present the complaints received by him before the presiding officer. As per the provisions of the Act, each complaint has to be disposed of within six months and the officials will ensure that the aggrieved person receives monetary help in the shortest possible time.

The wards of aggrieved parents will be issued summons to attend the hearing and in case, they reside in some other state, the SDM will ensure that the summons are served. In case, the issue pertains to an NRI, the summons will be executed through embassies.

To ensure its effectiveness, properties of those who fail to honour the directions of the tribunal can be attached. “Since the appeal can only be made before the sessions judge, the move to set up such tribunals is slated to help the aggrieved elderly parents get immediate financial help,” the DC said.

SDMs to head tribunals

DC Lalit Jain said the tribunals  would be headed by Subdivisonal Magistrates (SDMs), who had been designated as the presiding officers, as per the provisions of the Act.  “The tribunals will   be held on the last day of every month, where all cases pertaining to the elderly will be addressed.