An increasing number of parents are sent to old-age homes today, as children fail to spare time from their busy lives to care for the people that gave them life. But neglecting your responsibility towards your aging parents can now land you in jail in Bihar!
The proposal by Bihar government comes after the cabinet approved it after sanctioning a fund of Rs 384 crore for the same, reports ET. An official confirmed that the sum for the Chief Minister Old Age Pension Scheme was transferred from the Bihar Contingency Fund.
The funds will be used to provide monetary relief to elderly parents who have been abandoned by their children. Laws have been made strict to ensure the well-being of elderly people in society. If an elderly couple reaches out to the authorities with a complaint of cruelty or abuse against their children, a probe will be ordered and the child will be punished.
Bihar state government also issued a press note regarding the same. The booked children will be registered under non-bailable sections.
While talking about the pension scheme in the state earlier this year, Principal Secretary of the Cabinet Secretariat department, Sanjay Kumar said, “The number of beneficiaries of this program range anywhere from 36 to 36.50 lakh. This demographic will include people are above 60 years of age and do not have received any salary, pension, family pension or social security pension either from state or central government.”
According to the pension scheme, the elderly belonging to the age group of 60-79 will get Rs 400 per month and those who are above 80 years of age will get Rs 500 per month.
This is indeed a very thoughtful move by the government. We hope this measure proves successful in making children carry out their responsibilities towards their parents wholeheartedly.