Nawanshahr (Des Raj Bali):- The District Social Security, Women and Child Development Department, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, organised an awareness camp under the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana at Shri Vishwakarma Temple, Nawanshahr, under the banner ‘Our Elders, Our Pride’. A help desk was set up under the directions of Jatinder Singh Khurmi, District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman of the District Legal Services Authority, and Dr. Amandeep, CJM-cum-Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar.
Providing information about the camp, Para-Legal Volunteers Vasdev Pardesi and Des Raj Bali said that senior citizens were informed about their legal rights at the help desk. These included the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, under which elderly people have the right to claim maintenance from their children or legal heirs. If children fail to look after their parents, senior citizens can file a complaint before the tribunal. They further explained that if an elderly person transfers property to a legal heir on the condition that the heir will take care of them, but the heir fails to fulfil this responsibility, the property transfer can legally be declared void.
Any senior citizen can avail themselves of free legal assistance, including the services of a lawyer, through the District Legal Services Authority. The government also operates the Elderline helpline at 14567 to provide free assistance to senior citizens facing abuse, neglect, exploitation or requiring legal help.
Government hospitals also provide separate queues for senior citizens and facilities for free or subsidised treatment. On this occasion, more than 200 senior citizens were informed about the free legal services available through the District Legal Services Authority.
