INDIA: Promoting old age homes not in society's interest

. BHOPAL, Madhya Pradesh / Central Chronicle / United News of India / August 12, 2009 Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission Chairman Justice DA Dharmadhikari has said that it was not in society's interest to encourage old age homes, as it is moral responsibility of everybody to look after their elderly family members in spite of taking them as burdens. Justice Dharmadhikari said this during a meeting of government and NGOs officials organised to discuss drafting the law for the security of elderly people. He said that the new law formed in 2008 for the old people has been implemented in which a Social Justice department officer has been made maintenance officer, the district-level Sub Divisional Officer was appointed old people tribunal in charge and the district collector has been made appellate officer. There is provision in the law that the maintenance officer would approach and provide aid to those old people who did not ask for financial assistance. Similarly, tribunal officer was also given responsibility of taking action against the youth who did not care and provide monetary help to their elderly family members. On the tribunal officer's decision, there was a provision to appeal to the Collector. Lawyers were not kept in the purview of this new law. [rc] Source: Central Chronicle