Telangana’s Wanaparthy Collector increases senior citizen allowance when ₹5,000 was not paid by their children

Wanaparthy Collector, Adarsh Surabhi, issued directions increasing the monthly allowance, doubling it in some cases, when an appeal was filed pertaining to Revenue Divisional Officer’s (RDO) directions to pay ₹5,000 monthly to senior citizens or parents. One such case was heard a month ago.  

Toll free number 14567

Speaking on Wednesday (November 19, 2025) on the occasion of International Senior Citizens Day celebrations being held through the week from November 12, the collector said that if senior citizens in the district are neglected by children, a complaint can be lodged by dialing toll free number 14567. 

Citing the ‘Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007’, the collector said that appropriate action will be taken against people if a complaint in this regard was lodged with the RDO. Acting on 53 complaints, the Revenue Divisional Officer issued directions to pay monthly allowance to parents. 

The Act has a provision (Section 16 (1)) for a senior citizen or a parent to file an appeal with an Appellate Tribunal if they are not in favour of the official’s order. Besides this, suo moto cases too are taken up when the allowance is not paid. While hearing the two parties, children of senior citizens said they can pay only ₹1000. The Collector ordered them to pay more, sometimes an allowance of ₹10,000.

Mr. Adarsh said that an old age home would be set up in the district soon. There are around 23,000 pensioners in the district and around 95 of them were added this month. 

Meanwhile, a programme titled ‘Senior Saathi’ was launched by Minister Ponnam Prabhakar at Hyderabad Collectorate on Wednesday. He recalled the complaints from senior citizens during field visits, including parents neglected by children and senior citizens feeling lonely.