Introduction
Elderly or aged person, especially one above 60 or 65 years of age is known as a senior citizen. According to the Senior Citizens Act 2063, “Senior Citizen means a citizen of Nepal having completed the age of Sixty years”. Senior citizens are the wealth of social and cultural knowledge, value, belief and tradition. They are the founder of our society. They have already experienced lots of ups and downs in life. They have got unlimited experience and knowledge. We have to utilize the knowledge and experience of senior citizens. Some of the senior citizens are still contributing to the family, society and the nation as per their experience and ability. It is the duty of state to take care of the senior citizens. It comes under the social and moral responsibility of the state. Society also has to provide services to the senior citizens with respect and sympathy. A network of social organizations to provide services to senior citizens is working in Nepal. These organizations can help in the sector of the interest of senior citizens but most of them are limited only in the urban areas. There is more need of such organizations in the rural areas. The state has to manage them on the basis of priority. The senior citizens lose energy, feel laziness, pay less interest in personal hygiene, have the habit of expressing dissatisfaction, etc. So, some people ignore senior citizens. In some families, the senior citizens are being neglected by the family members too due to the influence of foreign lifestyle, busy schedule, financial shortage, wish to have nuclear family, ancestral distance, etc. As a result, some of the senior citizens are also deprived of getting the services and facilities provided by the state.
Constitutional and legal provision for the rights and benefits of senior citizens
‘Rights of Senior Citizens’ under the fundamental rights of the Constitution of Nepal, Senior Citizens Act-2063 and Senior Citizens Rules-2065 have made some provisions for the right and benefits of the senior citizens.
‘Rights of Senior Citizens’ a fundamental right
➣The senior citizens shall have the right to special protection and social security
from the State.
Respect to senior citizens
➣It shall be the duty of all to respect senior citizens.
Maintenance and care of senior citizen
➣It shall be the duty of each family member to maintain and care for the senior citizen according to the economic status and prestige of the member.
➣Except the senior citizen has lived separately or wishes to live separately taking his or her partition share, the family member of his or her choice shall keep with him or her and maintain the senior citizen.
➣No one shall detach the senior citizen from the family or compel the senior citizen to get detached from the family in against of his or her will.
➣If the economic condition of the senior citizen or the family member maintaining the senior citizen is weak, other family member shall make provision of maintenance and care of the senior citizen in spite of the fact that such member has not kept such senior citizen with him or her.
➣Any family member, relative or heir who uses or deals with (consumes) the movable or immovable property of the senior citizen shall keep with him or her and maintain and care such senior citizen.
Allowance or facility to Senior Citizens
➣ The Government of Nepal may categorize senior citizens, helpless senior citizens, and incompetent senior citizens on the prescribed grounds and provide allowance or facility as prescribed. It is the duty of everyone to provide help, facility and service to the senior citizens in religious or public places, health service, public function, public vehicle, etc. If the commitment made by the state is fulfilled, the senior citizens won’t have to suffer.
Efforts made by state for the benefits of senior citizens
➣Pensions to government employees
➣Provision of free health treatment and discount in health service
➣50% discount in the fare rate
➣Reservation of at least 2 seats in the public vehicles, and
➣Senior citizen allowance under the social security.