Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Jul 27: President of Udupi Human Rights Protection Foundation Dr Ravindranath Shanbhag on Thursday July 27 brought to public attention the case of an elderly lady who is facing harassment at the hands of her son over property issue and urged the public to join hands in helping protect the rights of senior citizens.
Addressing a press meet here, Dr Shanbhag narrated the ordeal of Sulochana Pai from Kadtala village here, who, he said, is in need of support from people of her village in order to get justice, even though the deputy commissioner has given order in her favour and the authorities are willing to implement that order.
Sulochana Pai toiled as a chef and strived to bring up her two sons, Ramakanth Pai and Bharath Pai. She spent her hard earned money to build a house on the 5 cents land granted by the government. She also fulfilled all her responsibilities as a parent by marrying off her two sons.
"The death of her husband Janardhan Pai in 2012 left her desolate. Both her sons had yielded to alcoholism. They were earning sufficiently as lorry drivers, but instead of taking care of their mother, they began to pester her for money. When she refused to give any money, they drove her out of the house. In spite of the house being in her name, the elder son does not allow her to dwell there. There is no sign of her second son Bharath, who occasionally turns up only to extort money from her," he said.
"Sulochana took shelter at the house of her relative Ramesh Nayak for survival. Bharath followed her even there to harass her for money. But Sulochana was again forsaken on the demise of Ramesh Nayak.
"In 2016, she complained to the police officers and the matter was looked into. The elder son Ramakanth agreed to give up the house to her, but did not do so. In March 2016, she gave a complaint to the Senior Citizens’ Tribunal with the help of Human Rights Protection Foundation, Udupi.
"After eight months of hearing the matter, the Tribunal ordered Ramakanth to provide maintenance of Rs 6,000 per month. He neither appeared for the hearing nor did he pay any money. But since there was no clear order for the possession of house, Sulochana Pai had to appeal to the Udupi deputy commissioner. Now the tahsildar of Karkala has been ordered to give Sulochana the possession of the house. Sulochana who was seriously ill since 4 months has recovered under the shelter of the Organisation. She has also been operated for cataract. She now yearns to dwell in her own house," Dr Shanbhag said.
"Presently the son has refused to leave the house under any circumstances. The organization has contacted the tahsildar of Karkala to give Sulochana the possession of her house and requested him to provide protection to her.
However, law and order or government departments alone cannot provide justice. It is only with the full-fledged support of the citizens that the senior citizens may live in peace.
"Law and order would fail in the protection of senior citizens unless the public joins hands with the government officials for the same," he urged.
He also said that his Foundation presently has 230 cases of elderly being harassed by their children, and that the deputy commissioner has appointed him to resolve such issues in Udupi and Chikkamagaluru.
Speaking to media persons, Sulochana, with tears in her eyes, said that she does not want to live with her sons in the same house as they constantly get drunk and harass her. She said that she would rather prefer to live in an old age home, where she is presently staying.