What do you think of the Parents and Senior Citizens Bill of 2007?

Question

The Parliament has recently passed a bill making it mandatory for children to take care of their parents in their old age. Do you think it's right to intervene in family matters like this? Or was this step called for? What are your thoughts on this?

Answer 1

I think it's sad that the government needs to step in to address the needs of the elderly. Let's not get so westernised that we forget those who gave birth to us, fed us, educated us and gave us the foundation to stand on our own feet in this world. It is a sign of the times that we need laws in place to make sure senior citizens lead a good life in their sunset years. Shame on us.

This must come as a wake up call to us to not let the culture handed down to us from generations go to waste. I am all for such a law; if we as children are unable to do what is our duty to our parents, let the Indian parliament decide that for us.

Answer 2

It is a very wise step taken by the Parliament.
The Indian society is going through a transitional phase, partly conservative partly American. The young people have ventured out of Indian 'homes' for livelihood. Very commendable! They have given a big boost to the development of the country.
But at the same time they should not forget that it is because of their parents only that they are 'breathing' in this world. The efforts that the parents have put in educating them and in bringing them up, should not be undermined by the young generation. So, the least that the young can do is to take care of the old parents when they really need them.Because even the senior citizens of India are provided with lots of facilities by the State. The old people of today are more empowered than the previous ones' as regards physical facilities and their own friend circles.
The old parents should also keep themselves gainfully occupied, eat balanced diet, practice fitness exercises. This would keep them mentally and physically young, and keep them abreast with the changing society, by being part of the change than merely sitting and criticising the new world and their children. This type of attitude will make the young go far -far away from them .
Law enforcement can not help to reduce the sourness in relations. What is needed most is the development of understanding in both the generations about eachother. What the old people need the most from their young ones is love and respect, which I don't think is so difficult to give to the people who have given you birth.Parents-Children-Grandchildren make a family. Even the nuclear homes are breaking. There is so much of unrest around. They are all into living in a make-believe world.
The Americans have tasted the 'fruits' of development and are now adopting eastern family values.
Please don't break the families.
Every family member should respect the privacy of eachother and every relationship needs space to be fonder of eachother.

Answer 3

I have a opinion that this should have been done at-least 5 years before . Non the less, better late than never. However, Social reforms can't be brought with an iron hand. Unless and until we as a society don't change our view towards our older generation, we end up seeing them as burden and they will end up on the road.
The lacuna I find in this bill, is that the bill doesn't address the plight of the aged people without any substantial wealth . In this case nobody will claim their property and will therefore will not support the elderly people.
My suggestion in this respect is that the Government should also declare some Tax benefit or some kind of support system for the caretaker of the elderly people so that this can also become some added attraction to look after ones parents or the elderly people in good sense.
I really feel pity to even think that you need law to force you to take care of your parents. If we do not respect or care the very cause of our existence, what kind of society we are building or leaving in. And we call ourself a very intelligent race.

Answer 4

In india.. why do we need a bill for everything. And in no way.. this is going to help the poor senior citizens. Why cant we have a bill which makes it mandatory for all the state governments to have old age homes and orphanages in all the districts. Why cant we have a bill which makes it manadatory for the goverement to take care of the people who are way far below the poverty line? More than half of india' population is BPL. Just raising and making new bills that doesn't makes any sense, time and again and getting it passed is not going to help in any way. Instead we need to look upon some hard facts. This bill, iam very sure of, is not going to help those who realy need it. We are the world's biggest democracy?? I am not sure our parliament is working the way it should. Our constitution is a dream book...... We have a very good reservation system for the OBC's, ST's and SC's.. But the fact is that those who realy need it cant avail it. First of all this reservation system need to be scrapped. We need to have a new reservation policy that's based on the income level rather than caste politics..

Answer 5

This Bill when it will come into force would certainly devolve upon the children a kind of responsibility to take care of thier old age parents. This kind of Bill introduced and passed in the Parliament will certainly absolve the Government from any kind of legal angle and would heavy burden on the shoulders of the working children who might be sandwiched by this kind of legislation. The reason of my saying is that he will have to look after his family and now his parents too. For example, A working man in Delhi who has been migrated from South India with a working wife and both are working in private firms or companies how can bear the burden of the old age parents in a tiny rent house by also paying a huge monthly rent. Even in the unforeseen situations like medical urgencies, he/she would have to take leaves for their care also. So, by making it legal obligatory for the time crunched men and women to bear this extra burden also. Our parents are not political leaders who will enjoy their every will at the instance of an order. This legislation will certianly create a kind of legal battle field atmosphere in our social life where a social service will become a legal duty and obligatory on the part of the grown up children to take care their parents.

Answer 6

If a parent abandons their children will they be punished?
I am sure there are laws against neglect by parent. So what is wrong in a society where Social programs can not be instituted, that children are forced to contribute. For those of you cribbing about taking care of their own parent, how would you like to contribute 30% of your income as tax. Then we can set up a government program with 50% efficiency to take care of Senior Citizen today. If there is a short fall we will just increase the tax another 10%. Then you will not have to take care of your parents. But this also will make Indian parents like western parents. In general children are not supported by parents, you take student loan to go to collage. So when you graduate you have at least $150,000.00 loan to pay off. Most of the Western parents keep their money for their retirement, and then to charity unlike Indian parents giving everything to their children. Do not compare Indian condition to western reality without understanding the problem in detail.
In short I find this bill was needed, it was overdue, but also sorry it came to an act of parliament to achieve it.
We as Indian parents dote on our children, but the modern children are too selfish. You should see Amitab's "Bhagbhan".
I have been associated with an organization Dignity Foundation, i have seen the misbehaving grown up kids.
This bill does not address the childless senior citizen.

Answer 7

It is the governments duty to see that all citizens are taken care of. All the basic necessities should be provided for all the citizens by the government.In most countries this is followed and hence they do not have this problem of senior citizens as we have it in India.I have my father who is 90 years and my mother who is 82 years with six children (4girls&2 boys)all are out station but yet we see that they are taken care of helping them financially and going over when ever required, since they do not like to leave their home and live elsewhere. But there are a lot of cases where the children do not bother about their families, hence something should be done to help them.

Answer 8

This has been devised and introduced by some people who have a good up bringing and family values. Some of our countries top leaders come from such back grounds. It is very right for people who may not understand/realize their basic duties. In family issues, which some times end up in law courts, everything is a personal issue. So why this issue should be kept aside. If one husband and wife can bring up 3 to 5 children, it is a pity to observe, such 3 to 5 children cannot look after their natural parents who have given them their utmost. Our most schools, tofay only how to earn a living hook or crook. But it is high time our teachers teach the young generation, family values. For that we need far more superior teachers, than what we generally have today.
The whole community has to awaken towards this recent law & help it to happen.

Answer 9

There are a number of laws prevalent in this country. Some are relevant. Some are irrelevant. This is not the first time that a rule is made which intervene in the family matters. The Marriage Act, the Inheritance Act, Divorce Act, The Gift tax Act, Wealth Tax Act, Income tax Act, Land Ceiling Act, ……….. and again a number of Acts., all are directly intervenes in the family matters. This answers the first point.

When a law/rule is analysed thread bear, one can find that there is no justice, honesty or equality in it but it contains laws or rules only. The knowledge about medicine and medical science is needed to the patient but it is known to a minority i.e. medical professionals. When one innocent person charged with a case and when he reaches the court, the knowledge about the law is need by him. But the only person unaware of the law is that accused. The knowledge about the Indian constitution is needed by those who are governing the subjects, i.e. that President, Prime Minister, the Ministers etc. The only people who do not know anything about the constitution is they only. Whenever they need to know about a particular clause, the same is got interpreted by some outsiders who are least bothered about its implications on the society.

When there are strict rules in a society, it will have always-adverse impact only. At what age one boy or girl should marry, if restricted by strict rules, it will only invite pre-marital illicit relations.

Looking to the subject law it should be first understood that this kind of a law is enforced in a country like India. We boost ourselves as a civilized nation, having rich heritage of crores of years, the only one civilization that remains on the earth for centuries together. What ever we have believed and practised till yesterday, we are claiming it all as nonsense, unfaithful, unbelievable and creating hindrances in the progress. We, with our ignorance, reject all godly/natural beliefs and try to follow the worldly things from where we pretend we are getting the happiness. (Finally when one understands that all doors are now closed and options exhausted, we return back to old faiths/beliefs, that’s altogether different ). This law is enacted in a most civilized society where it is taught MATHRU DEVO BHAVA: PITHRU DEVO BHAVAH: What is more shameful than hearing that we had to enact such a law. It is very clear that we lost all morals, ethics, principles etc. We are, definitely, not in the path of progress or development but retreat, de-growth and going back. Society is moving from knowledge, awareness and realization to ignorance, illiterate, impoverished and pitiable state.

Anyhow it is the booming time for those who are running VRUDHA SADANs / Old-age homes. Those who are interested and not yet started one can think of starting this business soon. The children will give few lakhs rupees to look after their old parents for their rest of life. The seniors will be in the institution. After a couple of years, say three-four years, the parents and the head of the institution will have a very close relation. The parents then complaint the head of the institution that children are now not giving anything to us. They are not eve enquiring about us over telephone also, though we have given them all our earnings in our life, lakhs and lakhs or worth crores of rupees. Then the parents with the support of the head of the institution files a case in the court for getting back all the property they gave to their children. The court orders and the parents get back all. Then, after a few days or few months or few years, they die. All the property becomes the worth of the VRUDHA SADAN. Therefore one can now jump into this business without a project report.

The second point ; was this step called for …? This is not the step called for in India. This is purely and squarely applicable to the politicians and parliamentarians, not to the mass. An average Indian cannot expect a better rule to be enacted by the present parliament where the heads of the parliament are physically Indians and mentally foreigners. Lack of right thinking is visibly seen in the parliament as it is filled with Left thinkers. If the rule is implemented, it will again add one more to the dead list, that’s all.

Answer 10

Simply passing a bill will in no way help the senior citizens. How can the government ensure parents are well maintained by their children. Unless children consciously think it is their moral responsibility parents will continue to suffer at their old age. It is ridiculous to punish any one for not taking care of their old parents. No parent will agree to it . They will always like their children to live happily.

V.Viswanathan