PANJIM: Despite ranking among the top literate States in the country, the Goa government has conceded the State lacks awareness concerning the maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007 with Salcette taluka topping the list of abusers of the elderly.
Details shared by Directorate of Social Welfare reveals that Salcette reported seven cases under the Act last year, of which the Maintenance Tribunal has disposed off four cases with directions to the children/relatives of the aggrieved elderly citizens to take care of and pay them regular maintenance. While the exact data for the entire State is still being compiled, Director of Social Welfare S V Naik said, other talukas have reported 1 or 2 cases on an average for the same year.
Naik conceded that there is lack of awareness among the general public about the Act. “The Act mandates that parents of working children should be taken care of. The Act is also applicable for relatives who share the property. Unfortunately, there is no much awareness about the Act and Goa Rules 2009,” he said addressing a press conference on Friday.
The Act speaks at length about taking care of parents and senior citizens, constitution of Maintenance Tribunal, establishment of old age homes, medical support to senior citizens, preference to senior citizens across different sectors like hospitals, banks, bus service, etc; and various other schemes for the elderly group.
Goa has around 10 old age homes run by the Provedoria Institute; another 30 such homes are being operated by NGOs. The State also runs 45 day care centres wherein around 1,000 senior citizens are availing the benefit. Deputy Director Santan Fernandes said the government has also been disbursing free wheel chairs, hearing aids and other appliances to needy senior citizens across the State; over 2,000 have taken the advantage of the scheme so far.
