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The Keralam Assembly on Tuesday (October 13, 2026) referred the Keralam Senior Citizens (Care and Protection) Bill, 2026, which aims at ensuring the rights and protection of the elderly, to the Finance Subject Committee for further scrutiny.
The Bill, piloted by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, aims at promoting healthy and active ageing, registration and regulation of senior citizen care centres, capacity-building for family and care givers, and protection of rights, dignity, and social security of the elderly.
Opposition alleges Constitutional breach
However, the Opposition alleged that the provision that a copy of a Bill to be tabled in the Assembly should be made available to members at least three days before had not been fully complied with. N.K. Akbar, MLA, in a point of order, alleged Constitutional violation, failure to calculate the financial burden correctly, violation of Supreme Court directives on advanced medical directives with regard to the Bill’s provisions on execution of ‘living will.’
The LDF government had brought out a policy for the elderly, set up a commission for them, and prepared an elderly budget. “So, the Opposition is not against the Bill. But, serious legal issues exist,” he said.
The Chief Minister, who holds the portfolio of the Department of Senior Citizens, contended that special Acts could contain penal provisions. Moreover, the finance memorandum in the Bill clearly specified recurring and non-recurring expenditure. The government would not incur any particular expenditure in setting up senior citizen unit and forums as proposed in the Bill. The Supreme Court guidelines would be incorporated when Rules for the Act were framed, he said.
The Speaker ruled that the Bill was published in the Gazette on October 10 and its copies circulated among members the same day.
During the discussion on the Bill, the Chief Minister reiterated that “the measure of a civilised society was how it treated its senior citizens”. If the Bill were to be passed, the Keralam Assembly would become a model for the world, he addded.
Focus also on silver economy
Referring to demographic changes and migration of children and youth outside Keralam, he said the population of the elderly in the State was expected to be double the national average by 2036. However, the government was focussing not only on the welfare of the elderly, but also “silver economy” so as to transform the challenges posed by the rising elderly population into an opportunity.
The United Democratic Front (UDF) government had set up a dedicated department for the elderly. Government interventions were planned to ensure active and healthy ageing, tapping into the skills and knowledge of the elderly, conducting a survey of all elderly in the State and their health status, setting up a volunteer corps, registration and monitoring of care homes, and training and certification of care-givers, he said.
“No one should feel they are alone. They should be protected and their rights ensured,” the Chief Minister said.
He also explained the rights and principles that informed the drafting of the Bill.
Published – October 13, 2026 04:12 pm IST
