Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Sudarshan Bhagat told the Lok Sabha here today that a review of the National Policy for Senior Citizens is being undertaken and will be finalized soon.
In a written reply, Bhagat informed Members of the Lower House that as per Census 2011, the population of senior citizens in the country is 10.38 crore, which is about 8.6 per cent of the nation's total population.
He said that keeping in view the changing demographic pattern, socio-economic needs of senior citizens, social value system and advancement in the field of science and technology over the last decade, the National Policy on Older Persons, 1999 has been reviewed and the new National Policy for Senior Citizens is under finalization.
Since the prime objective was to improve the living standards of senior citizens, he said different ministries and departments of the government are coordinating with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to implement various welfare schemes for them.
He said these included three important schemes, which are as follow:
(1) Scheme of Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP) under which financial assistance is provided to state governments/ Panchayati Raj institutions/ urban local bodies and non-governmental organisations for running and maintenance of projects like old age homes; day care centres; mobile medicare units; day care centres for Alzheimers and Dementia patients; physiotherapy clinics for older persons; help-lines and counseling centres for older persons; sensitizing programmes for children particularly in schools and colleges and regional resource and training centres etc.
(2) The Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) under which central assistance is given towards pension at Rs. 200/- per month to persons above 60 years, and at Rs. 500/- per month to persons above 80 years belonging to a household below poverty line, which is expected to be supplemented by contribution by the states.
(3) National Programme for the Health Care for the Elderly (NPHCE), which focuses on a community-based primary healthcare approach; strengthening of health services for senior citizens at district hospitals/ CHC/ PHC/ Sub-Centres; dedicated facilities at 100 district hospitals with 10 bedded wards for the elderly and strengthening of eight regional medical institutions to provide dedicated tertiary level Medical Care for the elderly, with 30 bedded wards, at New Delhi (AIIMS), Chennai, Mumbai, Srinagar, Vanarasi, Jodhpur, Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati; and introduction of PG courses in geriatric medicines in the above eight institutions and in-service training of health personnel at all level.
