Chandigarh, May 7:- Haryana Chief Secretary Mr. Anurag Rastogi has appealed to all Deputy Commissioners, SDMs and District Administrative Officers to be fully sensitive towards the provisions of Parents and Senior Citizens Maintenance and Welfare Act, 2007 and to resolve the cases related to senior citizens with full commitment and human perspective.
The Chief Secretary was leading a state-level workshop on Parents and Senior Citizens Maintenance and Welfare Act, 2007 and Haryana Parents and Senior Citizens Maintenance and Welfare Rules, 2009 here today. The workshop organized by the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment, Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Welfare and Antondaya (Services) was attended by Deputy Commissioners, Sub-Divisional Officers (SDMs), legal experts and various social organizations associated with the welfare of senior citizens across the state.
Addressing the programme, Mr. Rastogi said that the older generation has witnessed a period when several generations lived together in a joint family system and taking care of the elderly was considered a natural responsibility of the family. At that time, neglect of parents was socially unacceptable and other family members provided emotional and social support to the elderly. But due to the changing social structure and increasing number of single-parent families in place of joint families, now many elderly parents are either dependent on only one child or are living alone. In such a situation, the need for institutional security arrangements and constant monitoring for their welfare has increased.
Mr. Rastogi said that these laws are not only a legal source of ensuring financial assistance to elderly parents, but also a social and moral commitment to provide goods, dignity, health services, shelter and emotional security to senior citizens. He said that such awareness programs and workshops play an important role in strengthening the understanding of the authorities and timely disposal of cases.
The Chief Secretary directed the district administration to strengthen old age homes, senior citizen clubs, emergency shelter facilities, health services and district level senior citizen helpline. He also asked to ensure registration of all government and non-government old age homes.
On this occasion, Additional Chief Secretary of the Services Department, Mrs. G. Anupama said that the responsibilities of the administrative officers include ensuring law and order and daily administrative work as well as ensuring social justice. She said that social justice is the cornerstone of human governance and the officers should discharge this responsibility with sensitivity and dedication. During the workshop, various provisions of the Parents and Senior Citizens Maintenance and Welfare Act, 2007 and the Haryana Parents and Senior Citizens Maintenance and Welfare Rules, 2009 were discussed in detail. The officers said that under these rules, social workers and representatives of non-governmental organizations have been formally made part of the tribunal system. The conciliation officers associated with welfare institutions help in resolving disputes arising in families in a better manner and are also provided with honorarium on successful settlement.
The annual progress report for the year 2025 was also presented in the review meeting. Officials said that during the year 2025, maintenance allowance was sanctioned to 177 senior citizens.
The workshop also provided information about the functioning of the Maintenance Tribunal system.
Officials said that senior citizens who are not able to maintain themselves can apply to the tribunal by paying a nominal fee. The tribunal has the authority to fix maintenance allowance up to Rs. 10,000 per month and to provide interim allowance during the proceedings. In case of violation of the order, recovery action and jail action can also be taken against the guilty party.
Special focus has been given to those destitute senior citizens whose monthly income is less than Rs. 1500. The district officers were informed that they can take suo motu notice and send the cases to the tribunal without waiting for a formal complaint in such cases. The workshop was attended by Director of Services Department Mr. Prashant Panwar and Joint Director Mr. Arpit Gehlawat along with other senior officers.