SRINAGAR: The Union Government has confirmed that the maximum monthly maintenance amount of Rs 10,000 for parents and senior citizens, unchanged since the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act came into force in 2007, remains in place with no fresh amendment announced.
The clarification was issued by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment B L Verma in a written reply to a question by MP Jaggesh in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
Verma stated that Section 9 of the 2007 Act continues to prescribe a ceiling of Rs 10,000 per month, while Section 23 empowers authorities to declare property transfer void if the transferee fails to provide basic amenities to the elderly. He did not indicate that the Government has taken any immediate steps to revise the cap, even as the question raised concerns about rising living costs and the unchanged limit for nearly 18 years.
The minister highlighted several schemes aimed at supporting senior citizens, noting that the Ministry implements the Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana for holistic welfare. Under this, the Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens provides grant-in-aid for running senior citizen homes focusing on health and nutrition.
He said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare runs the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly, launched in 2010 to address age-related health needs. The Ministry of Rural Development also implements the National Social Assistance Programme, which provides old-age pensions to the poorest in both rural and urban areas.
On the legislative front, Verma pointed to the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which sought to expand definitions and widen coverage. The Bill, however, lapsed with the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.
