ALAPPUZHA: Thousands of applications are awaiting action at revenue divisional offices in the state. The verandahs of these offices are visited daily by people, who are mostly battling penury. Some among these are people who were abandoned by families and are now homeless.
Even though the social justice department has appointed a technical assistant and half a dozen conciliation officers in the RD offices, it takes weeks and sometimes months even to give notices to the opposing parties and hold hearings.
It was in 2007 that the state started taking measures for the welfare of senior citizens, under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act. According to the ACT, food, shelter and medical care should be provided to senior citizens who are abandoned by their families. The officials can proceed with legal action against the relatives, only if they receive a complaint.
Although there is a maintenance tribunal under the leadership of RDOs and an appellate tribunal under the leadership of district collectors, the complaints are showing no signs of stopping. Albeit conducting two adalat in a year, the grievances are not resolved as intended.
As per an unofficial estimate, more than 14,000 complaints have been received in 27 RDO offices so far this year. Thiruvananthapuram leads the way in complaints with a total of 1,500.
The number of complaints in the districts has increased threefold this year.