Guwahati: Senior citizens have called for media support and involvement for ensuring that government policies for welfare of the senior citizens are implemented.
‘Media’s support and involvement is very vital for implementation of not only the policy of the Government but also to generate mass awareness about the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 and Assam Rule 2012’, said Subha Brata Sarmah, chairperson of Senior Citizens Welfare Council, Assam, on Mondday.
Sarmah pointed that as per the National Policy on Senior Citizen 2011, media has an important role to play in highlighting the changing situation on senior citizen and in identifying emerging issues and areas of action.
The chairperson said, ‘The State Government, with active supportby the Council, has made the Assam State Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Rules 2012 for implementation of Act 2007 on the same subject’.
As per the Act, it was made binding on the children (blood relation) to look after their old parents.
The old parents can now apply before the Tribunals in person or through maintenance officers for their living if the children refused to look after them.
The State Government has already constituted Maintenance Tribunals in every Civil Sub-Divisions and Appellate Tribunal for every District.
As per the provision of the Act, Government of Assam has constituted State Committee for Senior Citizens with the Minister of Social Welfare Department as Chairman to advise the State Government on effective implementation of the Act and to perform such other function pertaining to Senior Citizens.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India declared ‘Vayoshrestha Sammans’, a scheme of National Award for Senior Citizens, with 13 categories for institutes and individuals.
Sarmah called on the media to spread awareness about the Award.
He informed that on advice of the Council, the Social Welfare Department has taken up to translate and publish the Assam State Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Rules 2012 in local languages, such as, Assamese, Bengali and Bodo with the aim of giving wider publicity and generating greater awareness on the Act. (UNI)