State Elderly Commission Bill sent to subject committee

The Kerala Assembly on Thursday referred the Kerala State Elderly Commission Bill 2025, aimed at protecting the rights of the elderly, to a subject committee.

Minister for Social Justice R. Bindu piloted the Bill, intended to replace the Ordinance on the same promulgated in December last year. However, the Bill was sent to the subject committee without any discussion in the Assembly.

The Bill is meant to constitute a commission for giving guidelines in matters related to the welfare and protection of the elderly, enable their rehabilitation, and make use of their skills for public benefit.

It outlines the commission structure, with a chairperson at the helm and up to three members, all elderly, to be appointed by the government through notification.

It proposes that one of the members be from the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes and another be a woman.

The chairperson and the members will hold office for three years. The chairperson will have the rank of a Secretary in the government.

The commission will be headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram. Some of its functions include issuing guidelines for welfare and protection of the elderly; arranging their rehabilitation; providing legal aid; using the skills of the elderly for public good; conducting investigations and inquiries and submitting reports along with recommendations to the government for action; advising the government on plans for welfare and protection of the elderly; and preparing status statements of the elderly.

Besides the Kerala State Elderly Commission Bill 2025, the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development (Amendment) Bill 2024 tabled in the Assembly by Minister for Industries P. Rajeeve too was sent to a subject committee.