Neglect elderly parents, lose 15% pay: Telangana plans tough law for employees who abandon ageing parents

In a strong message aimed at protecting senior citizens, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday said the state government plans to bring a law that could cut 10–15 per cent of the salary of government employees who fail to take care of their elderly parents, a PTI report stated. The deducted amount would be directly credited to the parents’ bank accounts. The announcement came as the chief minister also pushed for greater representation of transgender persons in civic bodies ahead of municipal elections.

Salary deduction proposal to support senior citizens

Speaking at an event to inaugurate day care centres for senior citizens in Hyderabad, Reddy said the government would introduce the proposed legislation during the upcoming budget session. He observed that many senior citizens are neglected by their own children, despite having served society throughout their lives.

“We can say that those who are not taking care of their parents are not fulfilling their responsibility towards society,” he said.


The chief minister said the move is meant to ensure financial and emotional security for elderly parents, especially those dependent on government-employed children.

‘Pranam’ day care centres launched

Reddy inaugurated day care centres for senior citizens under the ‘Pranam’ programme and described them as the first of their kind in the country. He said these centres aim to provide care, companionship and dignity to senior citizens who are often left alone during the day.

Transgender representation in civic bodies

During the same event, the chief minister suggested that transgender persons be co-opted as corporators in municipal corporations in the upcoming civic polls. He appealed to his cabinet colleagues to consider nominating one transgender person in every corporation to ensure their participation in local governance.

“My appeal to my cabinet colleagues is this: municipal elections are approaching. We can nominate co-opted corporators in the corporations. If a transgender person is nominated in every corporation as a corporator, they will have representation in legislative bodies,” he said.

Reddy cited the example of minorities being co-opted into Zilla Parishads and municipalities, saying transgender persons would be able to raise their issues effectively if given similar representation. He said a decision on the proposal could be taken at the next cabinet meeting.

Jobs and inclusion for transgender persons

The chief minister noted that Telangana has already provided employment opportunities to transgender persons in the Hyderabad police commissionerate and other government departments. The state government had earlier appointed transgender persons as traffic assistants in Hyderabad.

Reddy said the government would announce a comprehensive health policy during the budget session to provide medical treatment for all citizens in the state.

Referring to the caste survey conducted by the Congress government in Telangana, he claimed that the Centre “bowed to pressure from it and announced a caste census as part of the national census.”

Support for persons with disabilities

The chief minister also recalled former Union Minister S Jaipal Reddy as an inspiration for persons with disabilities, noting his achievements as a leader and parliamentarian while living with a disability.

On the occasion, Reddy distributed retrofitted motorised vehicles, battery-operated tricycles and other assistive devices to persons with disabilities, underlining the government’s focus on welfare and inclusion.

(Source: PTI)