Kerala is set to introduce the Senior Citizens (Care and Protection) Bill, 2026, in the state assembly, proposing imprisonment of up to three years for abuse, neglect and exploitation of elderly people and tighter regulation of care centres.
The proposed legislation seeks to create a legal framework covering physical, mental and emotional abuse, abandonment, financial exploitation and denial of essential care. It also aims to protect senior citizens from property fraud, coercion and cyberfraud, according to a report by Times of India – Thiruvananthapuram.
A key provision is the compulsory registration, inspection and monitoring of senior citizen care centres across Kerala. Operators running a facility without valid registration, or continuing operations after its registration has expired or been cancelled, could face imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of up to Rs 25,000, or both.
The bill proposes state-level and district-level mechanisms to monitor care facilities, investigate complaints and enforce official directions. District-level protection units would be required to investigate complaints and submit reports to the district protection forum within 15 days of receiving them.
The proposed law also permits action against unauthorised care centres, including closure and the rehabilitation of residents wherever necessary. A State Senior Citizen Protection Unit is proposed to be established in Thiruvananthapuram. District-level protection forums would be set up within three months of the Act coming into force, while district-level protection units would be established within six months.
The legislation includes provisions concerning children and legal heirs who fail to provide prescribed maintenance to elderly parents or relatives. It also proposes measures to speed up complaint disposal and improve institutional accountability, although the report does not specify the full adjudication process or the penalties applicable to every category of violation.
Special police cyber cells are expected to prioritise complaints of cyberfraud involving senior citizens. The proposed framework recognises elderly people’s right to live with dignity, access affordable care and legal assistance, and use public facilities suited to their needs.
The bill also promotes ageing at home and treats institutional care as a last resort wherever possible. The government’s stated objective is to strengthen support for Kerala’s ageing population by improving care standards, assisting families and caregivers, and ensuring enforcement of senior citizens’ rights.
The proposed measures place responsibility on both families and care providers while creating dedicated state and district oversight structures. Their implementation would depend on the bill being enacted and the proposed protection units, forums, registration system and inspection mechanisms being established within the specified timelines.
