PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
The Uttarakhand government has decided to appoint district magistrates (DM) as presiding officers of the district level appellate tribunal set up to resolve the problems of the senior citizens.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the government is committed to ensure dignity and protection to senior citizens and in this regards the DMs have been made the presiding officers of the tribunals and they have been directed to quickly dispose of the related complaints.
Directing the officers of the Social Welfare department, the CM said that the ‘Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007 (MWPSC Act)’ for protecting the rights of senior citizens, should be implemented effectively. The Act provides a legal system of maintenance of senior citizens and parents from their children, adult grandchildren or heirs of property. The CM said that a total of 13 Appellate Tribunals are functioning at the district level while 69 Maintenance Tribunals are functional at the sub-division level in the state. These tribunals have an authority to fix a maximum maintenance amount of Rs 10,000 per month.
The CM said that the DMs have the responsibility to provide justice to senior citizens by strictly implementing this law.
Dhami appealed to the senior citizens to contact the nearest Maintenance Tribunal or District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) if they feel neglected or get harassed by their children.
