Government to implement policies for seniors

Mumbai: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay HC has rapped the state for not doing enough for the elderly and directed the state to implement the policy framed by it in 2004 rather than waiting for a national policy, which is still in the making. The court was hearing a suo moto petition in response to a letter it received from senior citizen’s group about the lack of proper policies for the elderly in the state.

A division bench of Justices B. P. Dharmadhikari and R. B. Deo was hearing the grievances of a senior citizen group, which had written to the court after being demanded by the Nagpur Improvement Trust to pay a fee as a maintenance charge for using a room in a Nagpur garden in their spare time.

On receiving the letter, the high court turned it into a suo moto public interest litigation and also appointed advocate Anand Parchure as amicus curiae.

Mr Parchure drew up the petition and also drew the attention of the court towards the non-implementation of Maharashtra State Policy for Older Persons, 2004 and other similar subsequent policies. He also pointed out that had the policies been implemented, the grievances would not have existed.  

The counsel for the state informed the court that the state was awaiting a national policy on seniors. The bench then  directed the state to implement the existing policies till the national policy was in place. The court said, “Merely beca-use there is no National Policy, the respondents… cannot avoid to discharge its obligation.”

The high court further directed the Union to attempt to finalise the national policy within six months.

Policies for the elderly

• State government to release a report on the status of senior citizens contentment index every year.
• 50 per cent concession on state transport tickets.
• A separate commisionerate to be set up for the senior citizens.
• Access to government owned public halls should be provided free of cost to senior citizens if they wish to conduct functions there.
• Malls, restaurants and offices should have a provision of wheelchairs for senior citizens.