Law for Welfare of Senior Citizens

The Government has enacted the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 in December 2007 which defines "senior Citizen" as any person being a citizen of India, who has attained the age of sixty years or above. The Act, inter-alia, makes maintenance of parents/ senior citizens by children/ relatives obligatory and enforceable through tribunals. It also provides for establishment of old age homes for indigent senior citizens. The Act comes into force in a State on such date as the State Government may appoint. As per information available, 23 States and all Union Territories have brought the Act into force. 

This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri D. Napoleon in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.