Telangana Passes Law to Ensure Financial Support for Elderly Parents

In a major step towards ensuring financial security for elderly parents, the Telangana government has taken a landmark initiative . On Sunday, the State Legislative Assembly unanimously passed the ‘Telangana Employees Accountability and Monitoring of Parental Support Bill, 2026’ . Notably, the law extends beyond government employees to cover public representatives and private sector employees as well.

According to the Bill introduced by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, if an individual neglects their elderly parents, a portion of their salary will be directly transferred to them. 15% of the employee’s monthly salary or ₹10,000 (whichever is lower) will be deducted and paid to the affected parents. The law applies to government employees, MLAs, MPs, and private company staff , with the objective of strengthening the financial security of senior citizens . The Chief Minister stated that the new legislation is more comprehensive and stringent than the Centre’s ‘Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007’.

During the discussion, the Chief Minister turned emotional, recalling the case of Vijaypat Singhania. He cited how the industrialist, after transferring all his assets to his son, was allegedly left in distress. “ Without parents, we have no life. Respecting them is everyone’s basic responsibility. This Bill has been introduced to bring irresponsible children under legal accountability and to strengthen moral values in society, ” he said. He added, “ Those who neglect their parents have no right to live in society. ” He also expressed anguish that such a law had to be enacted.

The Chief Minister lamented that in today’s society, people are prioritising wealth over relationships , even neglecting familial bonds. While India has several laws protecting children and women such as Article 21(A) guaranteeing free education for children aged 6–14, Article 24 prohibiting child labour in hazardous jobs, the Juvenile Justice Act (2015), POCSO Act (2012), Right to Education Act (2009), and laws against child marriage he noted that neglect of elderly parents remains a serious concern . “ Children who fail to feed their parents while alive often fight over property after their death; this is deeply unfortunate, ” he remarked.

Minister Konda Surekha stressed the need for a change in societal attitudes towards the elderly and praised the initiative. BJP MLA Payal Shankar termed it a first-of-its-kind law in the country , extending full support while suggesting an increase in the deduction amount. CPI leader Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao also welcomed the Bill. The legislation is expected to provide critical support to thousands of elderly parents facing neglect in their later years.

The Telangana government has also introduced the ‘Telangana Hate Speech and Hate Crimes Bill, 2026’ in the Assembly to curb hate speech and related offences. The Bill was tabled by Legislative Affairs Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu on behalf of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. If enacted, Telangana will become the second state after Karnataka to bring in such legislation. Under the proposed law, offenders may face imprisonment ranging from one to seven years and a fine of ₹50,000 , while repeat offenders could face up to 10 years in jail and a fine of ₹1 lakh . Cases registered under this law will be treated as non-bailable . The government noted that existing laws are inadequate to tackle evolving forms of hate speech, necessitating a stronger legal framework . The Bill had received Cabinet approval on March 23.

In addition, the government introduced the ‘Telangana Platform-Based Gig Workers Act, 2026’ to benefit around 4.2 lakh gig workers , including delivery personnel and cab drivers. The Bill proposes the creation of a dedicated welfare board and welfare fund , along with mandatory registration to ensure social security coverage. Aligned with the Centre’s ‘Social Security Code’, the legislation has been further strengthened through amendments. The government expressed confidence that these measures will promote social harmony and provide greater security to workers in the unorganised sector .