Protection of Senior Citizens in India: A Constitutional and Socio-Legal Study

Abstract

Ageing of populations is one of the most important demographics trends in the contemporary age of the twenty-first century posing a number of legal, social and economic problems to countries around the globe. Aging of populations in India is another such trend that calls for developing an appropriate legal regime that protects the rights, dignity, health and welfare of the senior citizens in the country. Even though traditional Indian society gave high regard to reverence of the elderly people in the society, changing socio-economic conditions, urbanization, migration and decline in the joint family system have all led to neglect, abandonment, exploitation and abuse of senior citizens. Taking into consideration the issues related to aging population, the Constitution of India and a number of other welfare legislations and judgments have tried to enhance the legal protection for the elderly persons in the country. The introduction of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 constituted a landmark achievement towards addressing the problem of maintenance, protection, and welfare of senior citizens. The present paper is an attempt to analyze, from a socio-legal perspective, the provisions of the constitutional law, statute, and the Indian jurisprudence with regard to the rights of senior citizens in India. It will also highlight the problems faced by senior citizens and suggest reforms for securing dignity and social security for them.

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