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| Adult Guardianship Reforms & the Future of Mumbai’s Monorail |
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| Dear Moneylifers, |
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| Our work on the growing problem of unclaimed assets has continued to uncover deeper, often overlooked issues — one of them being the absence of a well-defined legal framework for adult guardianship in India. The question is simple but critical: what happens when an adult — due to age, illness or disability — is no longer capable of handling their own affairs and there's no legal provision for a trusted individual to step in? The current laws, while offering some pathways, remain fragmented and often inaccessible to families in need of support. |
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 This is a serious concern, especially for seniors who may be physically or mentally incapacitated and have no legal heirs or support system in place. Our exploration of this issue began last year, following the release of our report on Challenges in Transmission of Assets to Nominees & Heirs. Through this work, it became clear that the absence of a well-defined guardianship framework is a major gap — one that leaves many vulnerable individuals in a precarious situation. |
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| To start addressing this, we held our first meeting in September 2024, bringing together senior citizen groups, NGOs, legal professionals, medical experts and social activists. The discussions were wide-ranging and constructive, highlighting the urgent need for a legal mechanism to support adults who lose decision-making capacity due to age, illness or disability — especially in cases where there are no immediate family members to step in. You can read more about the suggestions put forward in the discussion here. |
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| Building on the momentum, we convened a second meeting recently, which saw even more focused discussions. One of the key takeaways was the need to begin engagement at the state level — ideally with regions that have shown a progressive approach to senior citizen welfare. As a result, we are in the process of preparing a formal representation to initiate the conversation around a legal framework for adult guardianship. |
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| While we continue to engage with experts and develop a more comprehensive representation, we would love to hear from you as well. If you have experiences or ideas that can help shape this effort, please reach out to us at ([email protected]) with your suggestions. |
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| To better understand the issue, here’s a short note on adult guardianship that provides more context. You can also revisit our earlier report on transmission of assets that helped bring this issue to the forefront. |
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| Rethinking Mumbai’s Monorail |
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 Mumbai’s monorail — India’s first modern system of its kind — was envisioned as a game-changing commuter service but has turned into a classic example of poor urban planning and execution. With just 10% of its expected ridership, high operating losses and limited connectivity, it has failed to meet the needs of the city’s commuters despite a staggering investment of over Rs3,000 crore. Recognising that this underutilised corridor continues to occupy precious road space in an already congested city, Moneylife Foundation convened a meeting with concerned activists such as Anil Galgali, Zoru Bhathena, Sudhir Badami, Debi Goenka, Abhay Datar and AV Shenoy, to explore whether the monorail can be revived, repurposed or decommissioned in a responsible manner. |
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| The goal is to initiate a serious discussion on the way forward — one that puts public interest and urban mobility at the centre of any decision. If you have suggestions, insights, or expertise to contribute to this issue, please write to us at [email protected]. |
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| As we organise upcoming seminars and workshops, we’d love your input—please send any topic suggestions to [email protected]. |
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| We realise that most members find it easier to access information on WhatsApp /Telegram etc. If you are not already on our lists, please click on this link to join – https://api.whatsapp.com/send/?phone= 917045156415&text= Hi%21+Please+add+me+to+your+broadcast+ lists+and+make+me+a+member.&app_absent=0 and follow our Telegram channel here – https://telegram.me/moneylife_foundation. |
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| Check our Free Helplines and Guides or Templates as well as our YouTube Channel, where you will find a wide repository of videos on various topics. |
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| Video recordings of all our webinars are available on our YouTube channel and will come to your inbox regularly if you hit the subscribe button. But if you want to be notified about future events through our mailing list, you do need to be a member. |
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| Moneylife TV & Helplines |
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| Financial Literacy Videos in Indian Languages: |
- Credit cards
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- Fallacy of gold loans and more in Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi and Tamil, all on our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/moneylifetv).
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| Get guidance and counselling through our Legal Helpline or Credit Helpline. |
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| Sucheta Dalal |
| Founder-Trustee, Moneylife Foundation |
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| Trustees: Walter Vieira, Sucheta Dalal, Debashis Basu. | | | | Moneylife Foundation is registered with the Charity Commissioner of Mumbai, is an Affiliate member of OECD's International Network on Financial Education, is a Supporter Member of Consumers International, Development Partner of Advocates for International Development (A4ID), and is a winner of the 10th MR Pai Memorial Award. | | |  | | | | Donations are eligible for tax benefits under Sec 80G of the Income Tax 1961 (50% tax exemption) and MLF is registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. 80(G) Reg No: DIT(E)/MC/80G/685/2010-11 dated 7.2.11 effective 8.+9.2010 | FCRA Registration No: 08378138  | | | |
