Awareness programme on senior citizens held

YOWAN MOTHAY, EOI, KALIMPONG, OCT 2, 2023 : District Legal Service Authority Kalimpong organized an awareness programme for senior citizens where they were apprised of their rights and laws to protect them. 

Advocate Dhanpati Adhikari of Kalimpong Bar Association dwelt on the Maintenance and Welfare Act 2007 enacted to protect the rights of senior citizens. He said that such senior citizens who have no source of income should be supported by their children. 

A tribunal has been set up in Kalimpong itself for senior citizens if their children are not supported or if someone has encroached on their property. 

He also said that there is a provision for senior citizens who are neglected by their children, if they apply to the Subdivision officer, the result will begiven within 90 days. It is not necessary to hire a lawyer for this. 

According to him, if the senior citizens who gave their land to their children and the children do not take care of them, the tribunal has the right to cancel the said deed. He also said that if any child has a monthly income of more than10,000, then they should get financial support on a monthly basis.

On the other hand, Prabhakar Dewan, president of Kalimpong Bar Association, said, this law was made in 2007. But even for16 years, people are not well informed about it. Therefore, the program has been organized with the aim that senior citizens can get information about their rights. He said that there will be no queue for senior citizens at the hospital and there will be a separate arrangement for them. He said that if any senior citizen is neglected by their children, such cases should not go to the civil court as an officer has already been appointed for this. DSP CK Pradhan, Dr.Saroja Rai etc participated and discussed about it.