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International News

China law: Visit to parents a must

July 23, 2013 posted by Steve Brownstein

The Chinese government has come up with a new law that makes snubbing and neglecting elderly parents illegal, but falls short of specifying punishment for violators. The Elderly Rights Law says adults should take care of their parents' "psychological needs" and "never neglect or snub elderly people" .

"Those who live far away from parents should go home often," the law says in an obvious reference to the 300 million people who have migrated to urban centres for work. The new law has evoked mixed response. It came in for a lot of ridicule on the net as it appears toothless with no punishment prescribed for the violators. It also does not explain how often adult children are expected to visit their elderly parents.

But it has been welcomed by the elderly. "It shows the government cares for the elderly . It will bring hope. I think the courts will settle the issue of punishment for violators," Zhang Wei told TOI. The law comes amid worries about the problem of neglect and loneliness among the country's vast elderly population, which is slated to double by 2030. As per 2010 census, there are over 178 million people above the age of 60 years in China.