Explained: What Keralam’s new Senior Citizens’ Rights Bill covers

The Keralam Assembly, on October 26, unanimously passed the Keralam Senior Citizens’ (Care and Protection of Rights) Bill, 2026, which seeks to establish a legal framework for protecting the rights, dignity and social security of people aged 60 and above.The Bill provides for the registration, regulation and monitoring of senior citizen care centres, caregiver training and certification, and measures to prevent abuse and exploitation of the elderly. It also seeks to promote healthy and active ageing and ensure support to families and caregivers.The Bill also proposes dedicated protection units at the state and district levels, a public register of certified caregivers, specialised cyber cells to address fraud targeting senior citizens, a State Reserve Fund for their welfare, and penalties for offences including abuse, abandonment and the illegal possession of an elderly resident’s property.The legislation had been referred to the Finance Subject Committee for scrutiny before being taken up in the Assembly.Chief Minister VD Satheesan said the Bill focused on the care and protection of senior citizens’ rights, with its main thrust being the development of a “silver economy”. He said older people could continue to contribute to society through their experience and knowledge and lead active, productive lives.What are the key provisions of the Bill?Rights and protectionThe Bill is guided by six principles: dignity and respect, the best interests of senior citizens, ageing in place and home-based care, safety and social care, independence, and participation in decision-making.It guarantees senior citizens access to affordable care, safe public spaces, digital services and safety, free legal aid, and essential eldercare products such as mobility aids, hearing aids, spectacles and continence-management products at reasonable prices. Public buildings and services must provide accessible facilities, while the government must establish accessibility standards for state digital portals intended for senior citizens. These are to include simplified interfaces, large text, voice-assisted functions and high-contrast displays. The Bill also calls for digital-literacy programmes at Pakalveedu (daycare) centres and other locations.Senior citizens must be able to access government services, banking and financial services, telemedicine, information, education, income opportunities and other digital services. Non-digital alternatives must also be available for those with limited digital literacy.Women who are widows, abandoned, disabled, survivors of violence, homeless or destitute will receive priority shelter and placement in government or local-authority-supported care centres and Pakalveedu centres.Registered medical practitioners and care centres must report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation to the District Level Senior Citizen Protection Unit. Where there is clinical evidence of serious neglect or injuries inconsistent with the explanation provided, the report must be submitted within 48 hours of examination.Protection units and forumsThe Bill provides for a State Senior Citizen Protection Unit, District Level Senior Citizen Protection Units and District Level Senior Citizen Protection Forums.The state unit, to be constituted within three months of the new law’s commencement, will oversee implementation and coordinate protection measures. District forums, also to be constituted within three months, will supervise district-level work, monitor care centres, address complaints and initiate action against centres that fail to comply with directions.District protection units must be constituted within six months. They will investigate complaints, inspect care centres, examine reports of abuse, maintain records of living wills and property or body-donation agreements, and help rehabilitate senior citizens who need shelter. The units must submit inquiry reports on complaints to the district forum within 15 days.The Bill also directs the government to designate an officer not below the rank of Assistant Sub Inspector as the senior citizen nodal officer in every police station.Registration of care centresResidential care homes, retirement homes, assisted-living facilities, Pakalveedu centres, day-care centres, respite-care facilities, hospices, home-care agencies and caregiver-training centres must register under the new framework.Existing centres registered under other laws must apply within 90 days of commencement. Registration certificates will be valid for four years. Renewal applications must ordinarily be submitted 60 days before expiry, with a limited provision for late applications. Centres must meet government-prescribed standards on infrastructure, facilities and services. The Registrar may revoke registration for materially false statements or breaches of conditions, after giving the holder an opportunity to respond.The Bill also provides for a publicly searchable registry of registered centres, without disclosure of personal data. Centres that remain unregistered may face penalties and closure proceedings, with arrangements to rehabilitate residents.Caregiver training and rightsThe government will establish the Keralam Geriatric Care Certification Framework, with a unified curriculum, identity and background verification, and refresher training at intervals not exceeding three years. Caregivers working in residential centres or providing live-in care to senior citizens living alone must undergo police clearance.Caregivers must be enrolled in a state register. The public register will display only their names, registration numbers, certification categories, validity periods and registration status. Existing caregivers with recognised qualifications may seek registration without repeating full certification, although bridge or refresher courses may be required.Home-care agencies must ensure that at least 25% of their caregivers are certified within two years of commencement, 60% within three years and all caregivers within four years, with a possible extension of up to one year. Agencies must verify caregiver credentials, protect personal and financial information, publish transparent pricing and grievance procedures, and cooperate with investigations.Caregivers are entitled to at least the applicable minimum wage, safe and dignified working conditions, protection from harassment and exploitation, and social-security protections under existing law. Complaints about caregivers will be handled by the state unit, with an opportunity for both parties to be heard. Appeals may be filed with the government within 60 days.Cyber fraud and healthcareA Senior Citizen Cyber Cell must be established in every cyber police station within three months of commencement, alongside a senior citizen cyber-coordination officer. The Bill provides for fast-track timelines for reporting cyber fraud, freezing funds, police documentation and regulatory claims. It also calls for safeguards by financial institutions, including transaction alerts and optional notifications to a secondary contact.The government may promote insurance products covering long-term care, in coordination with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India and insurance companies. The annual administrative report must review availability, affordability and access to such coverage.The state must provide specialised healthcare at primary, secondary and tertiary levels, including geriatric outpatient departments, biweekly clinics at community health centres, weekly clinics at public health centres and regional geriatric centres. Mobile medicare units may serve isolated rural and tribal areas. The Bill also calls for respite-care homes, hospice support and specialised centres for people with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Parkinson’s disease and other cognitive or neurodegenerative disorders.Living wills and voluntary donationsSenior citizens may execute living wills setting out their preferences for end-of-life care, including decisions concerning life-extending surgery, chemotherapy, oxygen, intensive-care admission and other medical interventions. The declaration must follow the prescribed procedure and be made in the presence of the chairperson of the district protection forum or unit. Copies must be sent to the district bodies and the local body concerned. The government will prescribe the procedure through rules and guidelines.If a care-centre resident voluntarily wishes to donate property, bank funds or other income to the centre, the State Reserve Fund or another party, the district unit must conduct an inquiry and arrange an agreement in the presence of the district magistrate. The original agreement will be kept in safe custody.The Bill also sets out procedures for the cremation or burial of deceased residents, notification to families and authorities, and implementation of valid agreements or wills. Property of a resident who dies intestate and without legal heirs will vest with the government under the Kerala Escheats and Forfeitures Act (1964).Fund and accountabilityThe State Reserve Fund will receive government grants, local-body contributions, fees and fines, CSR funds, donations and other prescribed receipts. It may also receive property bequeathed to it by a resident who has no legal heirs. The fund can be used only for senior citizens’ care, welfare, protection and social security.The Registrar must maintain accounts, arrange annual audits and submit an annual administrative report to the government within three months of the close of each financial year. The government must lay the report before the Assembly within six months of receiving it.What are the penalties under the Bill?Operating an unregistered care centre can attract imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of up to Rs 25,000, or both. Intentionally obstructing implementation of the new law can result in imprisonment of up to two years and a fine of up to Rs 25,000.Illegal possession of a resident’s property, physical or mental abuse, and cruelty by family members, relatives, legal heirs, care-centre staff or caregivers can attract imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to Rs 50,000. Abandoning a senior citizen without consent, with the intention of avoiding or abandoning them, carries the same maximum punishment. A registered medical practitioner or care-centre authority that fails without reasonable cause to report abuse as required may face a fine of up to Rs 10,000.All offences under the Bill are cognizable and bailable, and will be tried by a judicial magistrate of the First Class. Organisations and responsible officers may also be held liable in specified circumstances.What concerns did the opposition raise?The Left Democratic Front (LDF) supported the Bill but questioned how it would operate alongside an earlier Kerala State Elderly Commission Act, 2025 passed by the previous LDF government to establish a commission for the elderly.The LDF also raised concerns about provisions it said relaxed requirements under central laws, arguing that such relaxations would require the President’s assent. It questioned whether the financial implications of setting up dedicated police cyber cells and senior citizen protection units had been adequately addressed.The opposition also expressed concern about provisions relating to living wills, warning that they could be misused without a medical board or judicial mechanism to monitor them.Responding to these concerns, Satheesan said the Bill did not contain provisions contrary to central laws. He said the earlier legislation focused on establishing a commission for senior citizens, while the new Bill sought to guarantee their care and protection of rights. He added that Supreme Court guidelines on living wills would be incorporated into the rules framed under the new law.The CM said the Bill was intended to serve as a model for elderly care and rights protection. He also praised members across party lines for proposing amendments, saying constructive suggestions had helped improve the legislation.Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the passage of the Bill fulfilled three of the five Indira Guarantees of the United Democratic Front (UDF) government.