Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 26: The Keralam Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a Bill to protect senior citizens from abuse and exploitation, PTI reported.
Source: PTI via Dailyworld
The Keralam Senior Citizens' (Care and Protection of Rights) Bill, 2026, piloted by Chief Minister V D Satheesan, seeks to establish a legal framework for the care and protection of senior citizens, prescribing jail terms and fines for offences such as abusing the elderly, illegally possessing their property and operating unregistered elderly care centres. Satheesan described it as the first of its kind in India and a promise fulfilled by the UDF government.
Source: The Hindu BusinessLine
Under the Bill, physical or mental abuse or cruelty against a senior citizen by a family member, relative, legal heir, care-centre authority, staff or caregiver can draw imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to Rs 50,000, and the same penalty applies to illegally possessing a resident's property. Running a care centre without registration can draw up to one year in jail and a fine of up to Rs 25,000, while obstructing the law's implementation can draw up to two years and Rs 25,000.
Source: The Hindu BusinessLine
The legislation provides for registration and regulation of senior citizen care centres, with existing centres required to apply within 90 days of the Act's commencement, a caregiver certification framework, and mandatory reporting of suspected abuse, with a 48-hour deadline in specified cases. Satheesan said caregiver training courses would be introduced from the next academic year. The framework also envisages a state protection unit, district-level protection units and police nodal officers, and recognises living wills.
Source: Ghanamma (Thiruvananthapuram report)
"Nobody should feel that they are alone or abandoned. Their protection is their right," Satheesan said while introducing the Bill, adding that the way a society treats its elderly determines how civilised it is. The Bill's text was published by the Keralam Legislative Assembly.