Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Mar 30: The Telangana Legislative Assembly on Sunday passed the ‘Telangana Employees Accountability and Monitoring of Parental Support Bill, 2026’, aimed at strengthening financial security for senior citizens.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said the legislation goes beyond the existing Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 by expanding its scope to include public representatives, government staff, and private sector employees.

Under the new law, individuals in these categories will be legally obligated to care for their elderly parents. Failure to do so will attract a penalty in the form of salary deduction — 15 per cent of the salary or Rs 10,000, whichever is lower — to be paid directly to the parents.

During the discussion, Reddy highlighted cases of elderly neglect, including that of industrialist Vijaypat Singhania, to underline the need for stricter legal safeguards. He said the Bill reflects a social responsibility to ensure dignity and care for parents, adding that those who neglect them must be brought under the ambit of law.

Minister Konda Surekha stressed the need to instil accountability and change societal attitudes towards the elderly, calling the legislation a necessary step.

Supporting the Bill, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Payal Shankar termed it a “first-of-its-kind” initiative and suggested increasing the penalty amount. The Communist Party of India also extended its support, with member K Sambasiva Rao backing the measure.

The Bill has been positioned as a significant move to legally enforce familial responsibility and safeguard the welfare of senior citizens in the state.