Failing to visit your elderly relatives may soon be considered a crime in Southwest China's Chongqing, a draft law issued by the municipal government Monday said, according to a Tuesday Chongqing Morning Post report.
The draft stipulates that people should take care of their relatives who are over 60 years old both financially and "mentally."
Senior citizens also have the right not to give money to their adult children or other relatives, according to the draft.
Elderly Chongqing relatives whose children do not live nearby and require care should be sent to nursing homes or otherwise cared for, the draft explained, adding that this care should be paid for by their children.
In terms of the "mental" welfare of senior citizens, the draft stipulates that relatives should contact them regularly, either via telephone, social media or letters.
Taking away the ID cards or controlling the assets of the elderly if they choose to get remarried is also banned by the draft, which also forbids children from forcing their elderly parents to live apart.
The draft law does not mention what punishments violators may face.
The draft also stipulates that half of the capital of local welfare lotteries should be used to support nursing homes and elderly people who want to get back into work, as should a certain proportion of the profits of collectively-owned village enterprises.
Local housing departments should also do more to look after residents over 60 who have no children by offering them low-rent accommodation.
Chongqing will also provide a cash subsidy to all elderly residents who are above 80 years old.
The municipality's elder care centers will also benefit from several supportive policies including tax cuts and cheap loans, the draft said.
