Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh on Saturday warned of legal action against those forcing their parents to stay at old-age homes in the state.

Speaking at a programme to mark the International Day of Older Persons organised by the state social welfare department in Imphal, Singh stressed the need for a stringent law to deal with people misbehaving with their ageing parents and forcing them to stay at old-age homes in the state.

“The trend of keeping aged parents at old-age homes has increased a lot... such culture will hinder the state’s development. Parents in their old age should be given respect and taken good care of. Making them feel insecure at their age can be termed as a crime against humanity,” the chief minister said.

Appealing to this section of people to take their parents back home and take good care of them, Singh assured them of required government assistance for sustenance of senior citizens through beneficiary schemes.

Social welfare minister Heikham Dingo informed that his department was opening a cell to look into the issues related to “inhuman treatment against older persons”.

He appealed to the public to file complaints with the department if anyone happens to come across any such act of misbehaviour or ill-treatment of older persons.

“October 1 is observed as International Day of Older Persons every year to give respect to elders, who have done everything for their younger generations and society. Older persons should be given respect and taken good care...,” Dingo said.

The chief minister used the opportunity to list out the government schemes for senior citizens, adding the BJP-led state government is in the process to increase the pension amount under Manipur Old Age Pension Scheme (MOAPS) and Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension (IGNOAP) from Rs 200 per month to Rs 1,000 per month for beneficiaries of 80 and above years of age.

“Around 25,000 elder persons will be benefited by this initiative costing about Rs 20 crore from the state exchequer,” he said.