In a heartbreaking case from Mumbai, 75-year-old Mr. Gunvant is fighting a lonely battle for dignity and justice. The elderly man claims he has been abandoned by both his daughter and son, who have not only cut off emotional ties but have also taken over the very house he built with his hard-earned savings. What was once a family home is now a symbol of betrayal, with Mr. Gunvant left to fend for himself in his twilight years—struggling emotionally, financially, and legally.
Years ago, Mr. Gunvant sought legal recourse and successfully obtained a court order mandating his children to pay him maintenance. However, in what reflects a deep rot in the enforcement of elder rights in India, he has not received a single rupee in the past eight years. Despite a legal verdict in his favor, the system has failed to ensure compliance. His story is a stark reminder of how hollow legal victories can be when the machinery meant to uphold them remains apathetic or inefficient.
Mr. Gunvant’s ordeal underscores a growing crisis in India, where increasing numbers of senior citizens are being neglected, abused, or financially exploited by their own kin. While laws like the Maintenance and Welfare of parents and Senior Citizens Act exist on paper, implementation remains weak, especially when there’s no public or media pressure. As society rushes forward in the name of progress, stories like Mr. Gunvant’s highlight an uncomfortable truth: the elderly are often left behind, invisible and unheard, even by those they raised and cared for.
Years ago, Mr. Gunvant sought legal recourse and successfully obtained a court order mandating his children to pay him maintenance. However, in what reflects a deep rot in the enforcement of elder rights in India, he has not received a single rupee in the past eight years. Despite a legal verdict in his favor, the system has failed to ensure compliance. His story is a stark reminder of how hollow legal victories can be when the machinery meant to uphold them remains apathetic or inefficient.
Mr. Gunvant’s ordeal underscores a growing crisis in India, where increasing numbers of senior citizens are being neglected, abused, or financially exploited by their own kin. While laws like the Maintenance and Welfare of parents and Senior Citizens Act exist on paper, implementation remains weak, especially when there’s no public or media pressure. As society rushes forward in the name of progress, stories like Mr. Gunvant’s highlight an uncomfortable truth: the elderly are often left behind, invisible and unheard, even by those they raised and cared for.
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