Insecurity and Neglect Top Concerns at Kerala State Elderly Commission Sitting in Kochi
Senior citizens in Kerala have voiced significant concerns over a growing sense of insecurity, lack of family support systems, property disputes, and financial cheating. These issues came to the forefront during a sitting conducted by the Kerala State Elderly Commission (KSEC) at the district collectorate in Kochi on Tuesday.
What Happened
During the district collectorate sitting in Kochi, the Kerala State Elderly Commission received seven fresh complaints, comprising five submissions from individuals and two from organisations representing the senior citizen community. According to KSEC Chairperson K. Somaprasad, a major recurring grievance involves senior citizens being neglected by their adult children after transferring property ownership to them.
In addition to familial neglect, senior citizens brought forward cases of financial exploitation and neighbourly disputes. Complainants indicated that they approached the Commission primarily due to inaction by local authorities to whom they had previously reported their grievances.
Among the prominent individual grievances submitted was a case involving a retired government employee who alleged being cheated of ₹85 lakh by an Aluva-based non-banking financial company through promises of elevated investment returns. The complainant alleged that local police were not keen to investigate the matter. Another case involved a private lender who allegedly refused to return a mortgaged 1.25-acre property even though the underlying private loan had been fully repaid.
The sitting also addressed non-financial local issues. In one instance, a complainant alleged that improper maintenance of pets by neighbours was causing health issues.
Key Highlights
- The Kerala State Elderly Commission received seven complaints during its sitting at the Kochi district collectorate, including five from individuals and two from elderly organisations.
- Parental neglect following property transfers to adult children was highlighted by KSEC Chairperson K. Somaprasad as a primary complaint.
- A retired government employee lodged a complaint alleging an ₹85 lakh fraud by an Aluva-based non-banking financial company, citing police inaction.
- A senior citizen reported that a private lender failed to return a 1.25-acre property mortgage despite full loan repayment.
- The Commission has received approximately 300 complaints across Kerala over the past nine months, disposing of nearly 50 so far.
- During scheduled hearings for two earlier cases on Tuesday, opposing parties failed to appear in one case, while only the complainant appeared in the second.
Why This Matters
The proceedings at the Kochi sitting reflect persistent challenges faced by senior citizens regarding physical, financial, and emotional security. The nature of the grievances highlights systemic issues where elderly individuals feel forced to seek intervention from state-level panels after encountering delayed or ineffective responses from local police and administrative authorities.
What to Watch Next
KSEC Chairperson K. Somaprasad stated that the Commission will request reports from the relevant government departments and agencies regarding the received complaints. Following these reports, the Commission will summon the involved parties for formal hearings.
The Commission is also scheduled to conduct similar complaint hearings across other districts in Kerala in the coming days as part of its ongoing proceedings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kerala State Elderly Commission (KSEC)?
The Kerala State Elderly Commission is a state panel that receives, investigates, and seeks official reports on grievances and complaints concerning senior citizens across Kerala.
What were the main complaints raised at the Kochi sitting?
Major complaints included neglect by adult children after property transfers, financial cheating by private lenders and financial firms, neighbour disputes involving pet maintenance, and delays in police action.
How many complaints has the Commission handled recently?
Over the past nine months, the Commission has received around 300 complaints from across the state of Kerala and has disposed of nearly 50 cases.
Source: Based on a report from The Hindu.