(a) the number of aged persons in the country at present and the number of Government aided old age homes being run in the country for them;
(b) the manner in which the said aged persons are being taken care of; and
(c) whether the Government provides any pension to the said aged persons as they have no means of livelihood and if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)
(a) & (b): As per 2011 Census Report, the number of aged persons in the country is 10.38 crore i.e., 8.6% of the total population.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment implements a Central Sector Scheme of Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC) {previously known as Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP)} 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/Voluntary Organizations. Under IPSrC 368 Senior Citizen Homes (Old Age Homes) are financially assisted in the country.
To improve the quality of life of destitute Senior Citizens by providing food, shelter, Health Care, recreation facilities, etc, this Ministry provides financial assistance in the form of grant in aid to IAs for running and maintenance of the project of Senior Citizen Homes including Senior Citizen Homes for 50 elderly women under the Scheme of IPSrC.
(c): Under National Social Assistance Programme, Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) is extended to the persons belonging to below poverty line (BPL) households. Central assistance or Rs. 200/- is provided to the BPL persons of the age group of 60-79 years and central assistance of Rs. 500/- is provided to the BPL persons of 80 years or above. The total number of beneficiaries under the scheme is 221 lakh.
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