Keralam Assembly unanimously passes Senior Citizens’ (Care and Protection of Rights) Bill

The Assembly on Monday unanimously passed the Keralam Senior Citizens’ (Care and Protection of Rights) Bill, 2026. The Bill, meant to ensure care and protection of the elderly through a legal framework of rights, had been referred to the Finance Subject Committee for scrutiny.

It aims at promoting healthy and active ageing, registration and regulation of senior citizen care centres, capacity-building for family and caregivers, and protection of rights, dignity, and social security of the elderly.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF), even while supporting the Bill, asked how it could supersede an existing Bill meant for protecting the elderly that had been passed by the previous Left Democratic Front. Also, provisions of Central laws had been relaxed in this Bill. However, any such relaxations needed the President’s assent. The Bill did not reflect the financial burden that would arise as a result of implementation of dedicated police cyber cells or senior citizen protection units. It also alleged that Supreme Court guidelines on preparation of living will could also be misused through the will in the absence of any medical board or judicial mechanism to monitor it. The LDF expressed apprehension that it was a regulatory legislation without penal provisions.

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan denied that the Bill contained any provision opposed to Central laws. The Bill passed by the previous LDF government pertained to setting up a commission for the elderly. The new Bill related to care and protection of rights of the elderly through guarantees. This guarantee was not present in the previous Bill or in the Central law that focussed on maintenance and welfare of the elderly. The Supreme Court guidelines on living will would be included in the Rules for the Act.

The Chief Minister underlined that it was a special Act whose purpose was to focus on care and protection of rights of the elderly. Welfare was only a component of the Bill. Its main thrust was on silver economy. Also, the elderly could contribute to many areas because of their wide experience and knowledge and lead active and productive lives.

A survey of the status of the elderly and care giving courses were other aspects of the Bill. “The Bill should be a model for elderly care and rights protection,” the Chief Minister said.

Mr. Satheesan also praised the the House, cutting across political divisions, for recommending an unprecedented number of amendments to the Bill. The Bill, he said, would be a comprehensive one that incorporated all constructive responses from the members, he said.

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said that with the passing of the Bill, three of the five Indira Guarantees of the UDF government would be fulfilled.