The Telangana Assembly on Sunday passed the ‘Telangana Employees Accountability and Monitoring of Parental Support Bill, 2026’ which aims to ensure dignity of senior citizens.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said the bill seeks to go beyond the existing central legislation.
He noted that the country already has a national law, the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and the Elderly Act of 2007.
However, the new state bill would also cover public sector representatives and private sector employees.
The draft law stipulates that public sector representatives, government employees, and private sector employees shall care for their elderly parents. Failure to comply will result in a 15 percent deduction from salary or $10,000, whichever is less, is paid to the parents.
Read also | Senior Citizens Act cannot be invoked to decide property and possession disputes: Allahabad HC
Speaking during the discussion, Reddy referred to the case of businessman Vijaypat Singhania, who bequeathed all his assets to his son, to be revealed later.
“The state government, as a social responsibility, has brought this bill. It is not like any other legislation. While inculcating moral values among people, if anyone neglects his parents, he should be brought under the authority of law to ensure that they are taken care of,” he said.
Reddy added that correcting children who neglect their parents is the responsibility of society, and described it as unfortunate that the state had to enact such legislation.
According to the Prime Minister, those who neglect their parents have no right to live in society.
The legislation clearly defines employees’ obligations to care and support their parents.
It provides accountability for ensuring basic aspects of the well-being of older people, such as health care, housing and financial security, a press release said.
The provisions also address cases of negligence, and create mechanisms that enable authorities to intervene and enforce compliance when necessary.
The draft law gives parents the right to request alimony from their children and provides an official mechanism for redressing grievances.
The statement added that this project is expected to address growing concerns about abandonment and neglect of the elderly while strengthening the moral and social fabric of the family system.
“There is no life without parents. It is everyone’s responsibility to take care of them,” Minister Kunda Surekha said while participating in the discussion on the bill.
“There is a need to define responsibilities. Society needs to change its attitude towards the elderly. I greatly appreciate the Prime Minister for bringing such an initiative,” she said.
Terming it “the first of its kind in the country”, BJP MLA Payal Shankar said his party supports the bill and suggested enhancing the stipulated amount.
Communist Party of India member K Sambasiva Rao said his party also supports the bill.
