MARGAO: President of All Goa Senior Citizens’ Federation Diogo Da Costa, lamented that police officials usually register only a non-cognizable offence in cases of assaults on senior citizens, even though the law mandates that it is a cognizable offence.
Briefing media persons he said Section 15 of the Maintenance & Welfare of Parents & Senior Citizens Act 2007 and the Rules of 2009 clearly states that any case against a senior citizen should be a cognizable offence that is bailable.
“Except for Colva Police who registered one cognizable offence, all other police stations register as a non-cognizable offence and then direct the victimized senior citizen to approach the court on his own,” he said adding that the senior citizen who is not sure of his next meal hesitates to approach a lawyer.
While disclosing that a programme is organized to sensitise South Goa police inspectors of the law tomorrow, he said that nine such meetings are already conducted all over Goa.
He cited some cases, including one in Mapusa, where the son had stopped providing meals to his parents and also prevented his sisters from giving them meals, only because he wanted to sell the house and attached property to a builder, which the parents were not agreeing to.
In another case, an aged lady was beaten by her daughter-in-law in Vasco only because she had to be fed as she could not eat her own meals. He added that the cases of senior citizens being assaulted by their daughters-in-law are increasing.
In one case at Dramapur, he said the son who had assaulted his father was allowed to appeal against the order pronounced against him by the Deputy Collector, even though the law permits only the senior citizens to appeal.
He also disclosed that their organization offers consultancy services free of cost to senior citizens who have cases pending before the deputy collector under the Act. “While earlier the senior citizens had to pay the advocates representing them, we have a team of consultants to take up these matters without charging any fees,” he said.
While asserting that his organisation’s main aim was to ensure that senior citizens should not suffer in any office or from family members in any manner and listed out the various works they do. He said they have 11 member taluka committees in all 12 talukas of Goa and said that except for Ummid Day Care Centre that gets government grants, all other programmes are funded through donations and charitable institutions.
