Bhubaneswar: Members of both the Opposition and ruling party today expressed displeasure in the State Assembly over safety of senior citizens. Responding to a question by the Opposition, Social Security Minister Ashok Panda said that as many as 286 cases of atrocity against elderly parents were registered, of which verdict of 119 cases is out and one person was punished.
"According to 2007 Maintainability Act, Odisha govt has implemented the rules and regulation under which victims can register cases. District collector is the appellate authority. Out of more than 200 cases, final verdict of most is out and one person from Puri was jailed for 25 days," informed Panda.
At a cost Rs 62 crore, construction work of 150 coordinated complexes for elderly residents have begun in nine districts-Khurda, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Puri, Ganjam, Bhadrak, Malkangiri, Balasore and Kandhamal, informed Panda. He also added that 44 old age homes are being constructed by NGOs across the State.
Speaking on the issue, Congress MLA Sura Routray said, "There should be a special old age home in Bhubaneswar where complete care of elderly should be taken along with provision of food and healthcare."