Assam’s Pranam Bill Ensures Government Employees Care For Their Parents

Parents
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In a first of its kind bill, the Assam cabinet approved the PRANAM Bill, compelling government employees to look after their aged and dependent parents and differently-abled siblings who need to be taken care of.

The state assembly has passed the Assam Employees Parents Responsibility and Norms for Accountability and Monitoring (PRANAM) Bill, 2017 which is stated to come into effect from October 2.

Aiming to keep up the Indian tradition of reverence to our elderly, Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted “Glad that we’ve enacted PRANAM Act, according to which all govt employees are required to take care of their elderly parents, even if they adopt things like assisted care from places like on this website https://srcarecenter.com/locations/senior-care-in-fullerton/ to help their parents.

“Employees should get deductions of 10% of their salaries for elderly, provided latter don’t get any pension or other financial support from Government.

“If parents have to take care of a Divyang sibling of the government employees, the deductions can go upto 15%. We’re constituting a 3-member PRANAM Commission to ensure that all cases which may come are disposed of judiciously, to be headed by additional chief commissioner.

“This is historic, and it gives me great pride to have announced this. This is in keeping with Indian tradition of reverence to our elderly.”

Pune’s informed citizens speaking to Pune365 applauded this bill and sought its implementation in Maharashtra as well. A few citizens however felt that it was unfair on the bread winner of the family and the execution could be ambiguous.

“I think this is definitely a historical decision keeping in mind the number of parents who are left abandoned on the streets to beg and often die,” says a social worker for beggars in Pune.

“Often, we notice that Destitute’s admitted to beggar homes are aged parents who ran off from the old age homes in search of their kids and landed up on the streets.

“Some are also among those who were left by their kids in Pune from other parts of the country.

“Their condition is sad. Neither do they want to live in any old age home nor are they physically fit to earn their livelihood. This decision will at least help them get what they have invested in their child,” she adds.

“It is often the parent who gets carried away emotionally and gift all their property and money to their kids and hope that they will be cared for. This is when these irresponsible kids often turn selfish and abandon their parents after acquiring all their wealth,” quotes Davinder Kaur, 51, a homemaker.

“The moment they know that your net worth is zero, they deny you affection and care thanks to their belief that money is more valuable than emotional bonding.

This bill in my opinion, may endanger the lives of the parents if their children decide not to bear their burden any longer.” Kaur quips.

“Practically speaking, it is unfair to the person who is the single bread earner,” retorts Prince Bhagwat, 24.

“This scenario is entirely situational. If there is only one provider and three dependents, both parent and a disabled sibling, how is he or she supposed to manage?

“Moreover, what happens when he has his own family to provide for? Parents should have their savings kept with them which can be used in their retirement. This step by the government is appreciated, but that can backfire too in cases like these,” adds Bhagwat.

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#All views expressed are those of the individual respondent’s and Pune365 does not necessarily subscribe to them.

Loveleen Kaur