ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)
(a): Ministry of Rural Development is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP). NSAP is a social security/social welfare programme applicable to old aged, widows, disabled persons and bereaved families on death of primary bread winner, belonging to below poverty line household. Old age pension is provided under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) to the persons belonging to below poverty line (BPL) household. Central assistance of Rs. 200/- per month is provided to the persons of 60-79 years of age and Rs. 500/- per month to the persons of age of 80 years or more. This Scheme is implemented by all the States/UTs including State Government of Rajasthan. As per available records, out of 51 lakh of total population of Senior Citizens in Rajasthan, 10.23 lakh are old age pension beneficiaries.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has issued the Model Building Bye Laws, 2016 (MBBL) which under chapter 8 prescribes standards for creation of elder friendly barrier free environment with reference to buildings, toilets etc. Urban Local Bodies shall implement the Policy by adopting the Model Building Bye Laws, 2016. The Department has issued ''Harmonised Guidelines and Space Standards for Barrier-Free Built Environment for persons with Disability and Elderly Persons'' in 2016. These Guidelines intend to address the needs of persons with disabilities and elderly persons with a wide range of accessibility elements and standards and not limited to disabilities only, thus paving the way for universally accessible and inclusive India.
Housing for All (Urban) Mission/PradhanMantriAwasYojana was approved by the Government of India on 17th June 2015 and launched on 25th June, 2015. The Mission Guidelines have been circulated to State/UTs to meet the demand of housing in their States/UTs. In Para 4.8.10 in PMAY-HFA(U) Guidelines, it has, inter alia, been incorporated that-‘while making the allotment, families with senior citizens should be given priority for allotment on ground floor or lower floors’.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare:
(i) National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE) from the F.Y. 2010-11 to provide dedicated healthcare services to the elderly people at various level of state health care delivery system at primary, secondary and tertiary health care including outreach services. NPHCE has two components with the following provisions to provide health care facilities to the elderly people in the country:-
(a) National Health Mission (NHM) component: The district and below activities of the programme is being covered under Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) flexible pool of NHM which are as follows:
• Geriatric OPD and 10 bedded Geriatric Ward at District Hospitals.
• Bi-weekly Geriatric Clinic at Community Health Centres (CHCs).
• Weekly Geriatric Clinic at Primary Health Centre (PHCs).
• Provision of Aids and Appliances at Sub-centres.
The programme is being implemented on the basis of Programme Implementation Plan (PIP) submitted by the States/UTs and viability under the provisions of NPHCE. As on date, 599 districts of 35 States/UTs have been approved to implement the District and below activities of the Programme.
(b) Tertiary Component: In addition to NHM component of the programme, to ensure appropriate referral for conditions not amenable to be treated at primary and secondary level to create human resource orientated towards geriatric care, this Ministry is supporting development of 19 Regional Geriatric Centres (RGCs) with and establishment of
02 National Centres of Ageing each at AIIMS, New Delhi and MMC, Chennai with the following geriatric health care facilities:-
• Geriatric OPD, 30 bedded Geriatric ward for in-patient care @ RGCs and 200 bedded Geriatric ward @ NCAs.
• 02 PG seats per RGC and 15 PG seats per NCA in Geriatric Medicine.
• Research activities, Imparting Training and Development of training material.
(ii) PradhanMantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY): In March 2018, Government has approved the launch of Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY during 2018-19 to cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families (approx. 50 crore beneficiaries) providing coverage uptoRs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalization. PMJAY has been launched on 23rd September 2018. With the launch of the PMJAY, RSBY and SCHIS will be subsumed in it. All enrolled beneficiary families of RSBY and SCHIS are entitled for benefits under PMJAY. As per available records, a total of 59.71 lakh families in Rajasthan are eligible under PMJAY.
Ministry of AYUSH: has been providing the following facilities to senior citizens:
(i) Free consultation and yoga therapy under Yoga and Naturopathy.
(ii) OPDs are being provided in various Government Hospital at Delhi, Haryana, Tripura, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand.
(iii) Free Yoga training at 50 Yoga Parks are being run through NGOs in various states of the country.
In addition, other programmes such as Health Promotion Programme, Yoga Therapy Programmes, Individual Yoga Therapy Sessions, Weekend Yoga Training Programmes, Monthly Clinical Yoga Therapy Workshop are also being imparted.
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing a Central Sector Scheme of Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC) under which grants in aid are given for running and maintenance of Senior Citizens Homes (Old Age Homes)/ Continuous Care Homes, Mobile Medicare Units etc to the Implementing Agencies (IAs) such as State Governments / Union Territory Administrations (through Registered Societies)/ Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) / Local bodies; Non-Governmental (NGOs)/Voluntary Organizations. In the State of Rajasthan, 09 projects are being assisted under IPSrC.
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched a Central Sector Scheme namely “Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana” (RVY) on 1st April, 2017 with the objective to provide aids and assisted living devices free of cost to senior citizens belonging to BPL category who suffer from age related disabilities/infirmities. The Scheme is implemented all over the country through the ‘Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO)’, (a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment).27393 assistive devices have been distributed to 12215 beneficiaries in Rajasthan under the scheme.
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment rolled out the National Action Plan for Senior Citizens (NAPSrC).The NAPSrC highlights all the facets which are required to create an eco system where all the Indians can age gracefully and live a life of dignity.
(b) to (d) : The Government of India has enacted the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (MWPSC) Act, 2007 to ensure need based maintenance for parents and senior citizens and their welfare. The Act includes, inter alia, provision for maintenance of parents/ senior citizens by children/ relatives through tribunals, protection and care of parents and senior citizen, penal provision for abandonment of senior citizens etc. Till date, as per available records, 8353 cases have been disposed of by the Tribunals. Most of the judgments have been made in favour of parents/senior citizens and much faster than regular courts.
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