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Ensure Rights Of Elderly: Supreme Court
New Delhi, India News
July 26, 2004
The Supreme Court of India Monday issued notice to the federal, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh governments on a petition seeking the protection and enforcement of the rights of elderly persons.
A bench comprising judges Y.K. Sabharwal and D.M. Dharmadhikari issued the notice on a petition, filed by retired brigadier J.S. Bawa, urging the protection and enforcement of older persons' right to life, to dignity and to equality.
Counsel S. Muralidhar submitted on behalf of the petitioner that the elderly faced several problems, ranging from getting pensions to seeking security and healthcare.
Although there have been policies and programmes at the national and state levels, the petitioner "had come to realise that these were either not implemented or were inadequate to render effective assistance to the aged".
He pointed out the National Policy on Older Persons (NPOP), 1999, had noted that in another three decades, India would have 198 million people in the 60-plus age group, and this was likely to touch 326 million in 2050.
Unless some concrete steps were taken at this stage, these policies would only remain on paper.
He sought a direction to the government to place before the court a time-bound action plan to implement the various recommendations contained in the NPOP framed by the ministry of social justice and empowerment.
He wanted the state governments to constitute a special grievance redressal cell for the aged in every department of social justice and empowerment, public grievance and personnel.
Seeking a special insurance cover for the elderly, the petitioner requested the court to direct the respondents to draw up specific schemes to ensure availability of medical services round-the-clock at affordable rates and easily accessible venues.
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