𝐊𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐌 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐎𝐑 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐙𝐄𝐍𝐒 (𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒) 𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐋, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬?

– The 𝐊𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐦 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐲 passed the Senior Citizens (Care and Protection of Rights) Bill, 2026, to strengthen the rights and welfare of elderly people.

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:

• 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠: Recognises the right of senior citizens to live independently at home.
• 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥: Recognises advance instructions concerning end-of-life medical treatment.
• 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞: Provides for regulation of care centres and professional standards.
• 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: Promotes ramps, priority seating and accessible public facilities.
• 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬: Introduces caregiver training, background verification and police clearance.
• 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Specified offences, including abuse, abandonment and illegal possession of property, may attract imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to ₹50,000, as provided in the Bill.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭?

• Kerala’s population aged 60 years and above constituted 16.5% in 2021 and is projected to reach 20.9% by 2031.
• It promotes rights-based, dignified and professional elderly care, including social, recreational and cultural participation.
• It gives attention to vulnerable groups, including widows, abandoned elderly people and senior citizens with disabilities.

𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤:

– The Bill complements the 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐭, 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟕, which provides for maintenance of parents and senior citizens and related welfare measures.

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐬:

• 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Population changes associated with declining birth and death rates, often leading to an ageing population.
• 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥: A document stating a person’s preferences regarding future medical treatment.
• 𝐄𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞: Services protecting senior citizens’ health, dignity, safety and independence.