Protection of Senior citizens impossible sans public support – Dr Ravindranath Shanbhag

Protection of Senior citizens impossible sans public support – Dr Ravindranath Shanbhag

Udupi: Law and order would fail in the protection of senior citizens unless the public join hands with the government officials said Dr Ravindranath Shanbhag, HRPF, Udupi. He was speaking at a press meet held at the Vaikunta Baliga College of Law here on July 27.

Though the District Commissioner has given the order in her favour of Sulochana Pai from Kadtala village and the authorities are willing to implement that order, it would be impossible to confer her justice and protection without the support of the citizens of the village.

Sulochana Pai of Kadtala village in Udupi toiled as a chef and strived to bring up her two sons, Ramakanth Pai and Bharath Pai. She spent her hard earned money to build a house on the 5 cents land granted by the Government. She also fulfilled all her responsibilities as a parent by marrying off her two sons.

The death of her husband Janardhan Pai in 2012 left her desolate. Both her sons had yielded to alcoholism.  They were earning sufficiently as lorry drivers, but instead of taking care of their mother, they began to pester her for money. When she refused to give any money, they drove her out of the house.  In spite of the house being in her name, the elder son does not allow her to live there.  There is no sign of her second son Bharath, who occasionally turns up only to extort money from her.

Sulochana took shelter at the house of a relative, Ramesh Nayak for survival. Bharath followed her even there to harass her for money.  But  Sulochana was again forsaken after the demise of Ramesh Nayak.

In 2016, she complained to the police officers and the matter was looked into. The elder son Ramakanth, agreed to give up the house to her, but did not do so.  In March 2016, she gave a complaint to the Senior Citizens’ Tribunal with the help of Human Rights Protection Foundation, Udupi.

After eight months of hearing the matter, the Tribunal ordered Ramakanth to provide maintenance of Rs. 6000/- per month. He neither appeared for the hearing nor did he pay any money. But since there was no clear order for the possession of the house, Sulochana Pai had to appeal to the Udupi District Commissioner. The Deputy Commissioner uplifting Assistant Commissioners order has ordered the Tahsildar of Karkala to give Sulochana the possession of the house. Sulochana who is seriously ill since 4 months has recovered under the care of the Organisation. She has also been operated for cataract. She now yearns to dwell in her own house.

Presently her son has refused to leave the house under any circumstances. The organization has contacted the Tahsildar of Karkala to give Sulochana the possession of her house and requested him to provide her protection.

However the law and order or government departments alone cannot provide justice. It is only with the full-fledged support of the citizens that the senior citizens may live in peace.

Sulochana speaking to media persons said that she wants to sell the house and manage her life. She has also faced assault from her sons and daughter in law. Her sons used to take care of her before their marriage but things changed later as they hot addicted to alcohol. She was subjected to abuses and later was thrown out of her house. She has suffered injuries from the assault by her sons frequently.

Sulochanas younger son was hospitalized in Mangaluru, Sulochana who now finds bliss at an old age home managed to visit her son and has even paid his hospital bills which reflects here love towards her family says Shanbhag. Shanbhag continues to say that it will be difficult for Sulochana to lead her life alone at her house in Kadtala, he added.

Shanbhag expressed his happiness over his appointment as the consultation officer at the Senior Citizens Tribunal.