Thiruvananthapuram, 13 Oct (H.S.): Abandoning senior citizens or subjecting them to physical or mental abuse could attract imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of Rs 50,000 under a welfare bill the Keralam government plans to introduce in the Assembly on Tuesday.

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan will present the bill on the care and protection of senior citizens’ rights, proposing safeguards against neglect, exploitation and abuse, alongside measures to regulate care homes.

The bill makes it an offence for children, other family members or legal heirs to take elderly people to a care facility or another location without their consent with the intention of abandoning them.

Family members, relatives and care-home employees who physically or mentally abuse senior citizens would face the same punishment. Care-home operators who appropriate a resident’s property could also face imprisonment of up to three years and a Rs 50,000 fine.

Running an unregistered care facility would attract imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of Rs 25,000, or both. All offences under the proposed legislation would be tried by a Judicial First Class Magistrate Court.

The bill gives priority to enabling elderly people to live safely in their own homes. Care facilities would require registration and compliance with prescribed standards, while caregivers would need training and certification. Live-in caregivers must obtain police clearance certificates.

A State Senior Citizen Protection Unit, headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram and chaired by the director of the elderly welfare department, would oversee implementation. Protection forums and units would also be established in districts.

Dedicated senior citizen cyber cells and coordinating officers are proposed at cyber police stations, supported by digital literacy programmes to prevent online fraud.

Other provisions include insurance and long-term care coverage, specialised government facilities for people with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions, and a dedicated State Care Fund.

Government care homes would prioritise elderly women who are widowed, disabled, abandoned or survivors of abuse. If a care-home resident dies without a will or legal heirs, the property would vest in the government.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman