Click to play videoHyderabad: Senior citizens living in old age homes in Andhra Pradesh will now get the legal right to claim maintenance from their children.
Seventy-year-old Ramkistayya is a retired man. He was an accountant in a weavers society in Mahabubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh.
Though Ramkistayya has three sons and a daughter, he has moved to an old age home in Hyderabad.
Ramkishtayya says, “I have three children. They are good but their wives don’t like me.”
Many others in the old age home have similar stories. Despite having children who are capable of supporting them, they are living in the old age home funded by their own savings.
But the situation might change very soon, thanks to a Bill passed by the Andhra Pradesh State Legislative Assembly.
On Wednesday the Assembly passed a Bill to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure.
The amended Bill now enables senior citizens of the state living in old age homes to claim maintenance from their children.
The Bill specifies however that the children should be financially strong. This news comes as a relief to many, who fear that their savings might not last to support them their whole life.
Retired professor Dr Venugopal says, " The percentage of old people once upon a time was three per cent then it increased to 5 per cent now it is going to 15 per cent. In such case we are welcoming this Bill. "
The Bill has been passed on a suggestion from the High Court to consider the problems of old and infirm parents, who are in no position, take a long journey and file cases for claiming maintenance from their children who are earning.
The parents will also be able to initiate criminal proceedings against their children if they fail to provide maintenance.
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