he Supreme Court on Friday expressed concern for the over 10 crore senior citizens in the country, a majority of whom are deprived of love, care and respect by their kin in a fast-paced world. The SC asked the Centre for a roadmap to provide them basic facilities like shelter, food and healthcare.
The concern of a bench of Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justices R Banumathi and U U Lalit was palpable as former law minister and Congress leader Ashwani Kumar, who personally filed the PIL, narrated the pitiable condition in which the aged find themselves.
“We are a trillion dollar economy and yet the central government allocates just Rs 25 crore for welfare of the aged. Of this, more than half does not get spent. Mohini Giri’s report on welfare of senior citizens was given in 2011. It is yet to be acted upon,” Kumar said.