the goan I network
MARGAO
The avowed objective behind enacting the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment was to provide more effective provision for maintenance and welfare of parents and senior citizens.
The ground reality, however, seemed different. Cases for maintenance have been pending before the deputy Collectors for days and months for want of disposal. In some instances, directives and orders issued by the deputy Collectors remained either on paper or challenged before the appellate authorities including the High Court.
That’s not all. The Act establishes the Maintenance Tribunal to provide speedy and effective relief to elderly persons. Reality, however, shows otherwise.
Headed by the taluka deputy Collectors as Presiding Officers, not many senior citizens have received relief from the tribunals till date, defeating the very purpose of the tribunals.
In fact, senior citizens pointed out that a mechanism is not in place to grant interim relief to the elders in distress and to effectively settle claims for maintenance.
Says President of the All Goa Senior Citizens’ Federation, Diogo M Da Costa: “It is observed by the Federation of senior citizens that cases referred to Maintenance Tribunals, especially pertaining to Salcete, are delayed beyond the prescribed limit of 3-4 months. As a result, elders are suffering for want of maintenance.”
He claimed that a couple of cases for maintenance have been pending with the Tribunal for two years and more even after completion of inquiry, defeating the very objective of the legislation.
“The appeals of the senior citizens for interim maintenance due to their poverty do not find favour with the tribunal. As a result, beleaguered senior citizens approached us,” Costa said.
The Federation has now made a fervent plea to the district Collectors, besides Social Welfare Minister Milind Naik to issue guidelines to all the Maintenance Tribunals to award interim maintenance.
“Provision for interim maintenance is provided in the Act and must be invoked,” he said.
Sources in the Tribunal, however, pointed out that delay in disposing of petitions could be varied. “In one case, after the Tribunal had issued an order for maintenance, the son had moved the HC challenging the order, with the Court remanding back the matter to the tribunal for an inquiry,” an official said.
“The Tribunal has come across cases filed for maintenance, but are basically property disputes in nature. There are also instances wherein the children of the senior citizens are staying abroad, making implementation of the maintenance order difficult,” the official added.
