Far from the bureaucratic buzz, a retired IAS officer is healing the wounds of senior citizens who face harassment from their kin.

Former IAS officer Shyamji Sahay is helping such senior citizens by providing them free counselling to safeguard their rights. Sahay is making elderly people aware about their constitutional rights that could help them claim maintenance allowance from their children.

Floating a non-government organisation called Vision Tomorrow, the IAS officer started the counselling sessions in May.

Sahay (72) believes most senior citizens are insulted, abused and neglected by their children and live a miserable life because society gives them no recognition.

The 1990-batch Bihar cadre officer, who retired in 2003, said: “Whenever in distress, an elderly person can call me on the helpline number 9473238900 and narrate his/her problems. The problems can relate to food, shelter, clothing, healthcare and other such issues.”

Sahay, who did his postgraduation in economics from Patna University, further said: “I counsel senior citizens on how he/she can visit a maintenance tribunal and claim his/her rights. If necessary, I visit a person’s house and discuss matters with family members of the elderly. Often open discussions can solve greater issues.”

According to Sahay, he receives at least three or four calls from senior citizens, who complain of their children harassing them. “Most calls come from rural areas. However, last month a senior citizen from Mainpura in Patna gave me a clarion call. His son, a daily-wager, shouts at him for no reason. I spoke to his son and counselled the father-son duo. It’s been a month now, but the elderly person has not contacted me. I presume, everything is all right between them,” he said.

“Elderly people, who roughly constitute 10 per cent of the total population of Bihar, are neglected. About 75 per cent of such cases are from rural areas. A panel headed by social activist V. Mohini Giri in its report — National Policy on Senior Citizens 2011 — focused on the concern for senior citizens, especially older women, and their recognition as valuable resources for the country,” Sahay said.

He added that elderly people could claim their rights by citing the Maintenance and Welfare for Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007. The state government, too, introduced the Bihar Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Rules, 2012. Sahay was the Araria district magistrate and has also served as the sub-divisional officer in Munger.