Senior citizens living in remote and inaccessible areas of the state will no longer have trouble getting the benefits of government schemes. The government has directed all the District Magistrates to identify the elderly living in these areas and ensure their special care. Additional Secretary Prakash Chand has issued orders in this regard. Not only this, the police will also go door-to-door in villages to know the well-being of the elderly. Remote villages are also facing the brunt of migration. The youth there are moving towards the plain districts for employment. The number of elderly people living in villages is high. Due to adverse geographical conditions, they have to struggle a lot for treatment, medicine or other needs. The government is continuously running schemes for the welfare of such lonely and elderly people. Now a strong system is being made to ensure that they get the benefits. Additional Secretary Social Welfare Prakash Chand has issued orders in this regard. It has been said that the Maintenance Act for Parents and Senior Citizens, 2007 and the Uttarakhand Maintenance and Welfare Rules for Parents and Senior Citizens, 2011 are in force in the state.
In this, a provision has been made to provide the benefits of all schemes to the elderly. In such a situation, the scheme implemented for the welfare and maintenance of the senior citizens of the state should be widely publicized district-wise. Also, the officials have been asked to provide the benefits of the elderly welfare schemes of the Social Welfare Department to the elderly in a timely and easy manner. According to the Additional Secretary, there is a provision in the rules that if the children or heirs neglect their parents, then if found guilty, they can be fined Rs 5000 or jailed for three months or both. The government has directed all the police stations to prepare a list of senior citizens living in their area and visit their homes every month to know about their well-being. If required, immediate assistance should also be provided. On the other hand, Executive Vice President of Joint Citizens Organization Girish Chandra Bhatt and General Secretary Sushil Tyagi had met Chief Secretary Anand Vardhan a few days ago and suggested strict implementation of the Parents and Senior Citizens Maintenance Rules.
