(a) the percentage of senior citizens covered under the welfare schemes of the Government for senior citizens in the country;
(b) whether the Government has any plans to increase the coverage of the senior citizens under these schemes;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether there is any specific health insurance schemes for senior citizens and if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)
(a) to (c): Data regarding the percentage of senior citizens covered under the welfare schemes of the Government for senior citizens in the country is not maintained in this Ministry. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment periodically requests States/UT Governments, where the coverage is less to send more proposals for receiving of grants-in-aid under the Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP).
As per information received from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Ministry had launched the programme, namely “National Programme for the Health Care of Elderly (NPHCE)” during 2010-11 to address various health related problems of elderly people. The major objectives of the NPHCE are establishment of Department of Geriatrics in identified Medical Institution as Regional Geriatric Centres for different regions of the country and to provide dedicated health facilities in District Hospitals, Community Health Centres (CHCs), Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Sub-Centres (SCs) levels trough State Health Society. During financial year 2016-17, a total no. of 415 districts of 34 States/UTs have so far been approved for implementation under the Programme. Under the tertiary level activities of the programme namely, ‘Rashtriya Varishth Jan Swasthya Yojana (RVJSY)’, so far 15 identified Medical Institutions, have been funded for development of “Regional Geriatric Centres (RGCs)” at the various regions of the country. Also, 02 National Centres of Ageing (NCAs) have been approved to be set-up during the remaining period of 12th Five year Plan, within the premises of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi and Madras Medical College (MMC), Chennai.
As per information furnished by the Ministry of Rural Development, Old Age Pension is provided under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), which is a social welfare programme for persons living below poverty line (BPL) implemented in rural as well as in urban areas.
Under IGNOAPS, a central assistance of Rs. 200/- per month is provided to the BPL persons of the age group of 60 to 79 years and Rs. 500/- per month is provided to the BPL persons of 80 years or above. During 2015-16, 2.21 crore beneficiaries were covered under the IGNOAPS. At present, the Ministry of Rural Development is not considering any proposal to increase the coverage of beneficiaries.
(d): As per information received from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Senior Citizens Health Insurance Scheme (SCHIS) has been implemented w.e.f. 01.04.2016, as a top up over the existing “Rasthriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBU)”. The SCHIS provides enhanced coverage of Rs. 30,000/- per senior citizen in the family eligible for coverage under RSBY. At present, 5 states viz. Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Tripura and Nagaland are implementing SCHIS. Apart from this scheme, there is no other Health Insurance scheme for senior citizens.
There is no specific health insurance scheme for senior citizens under the NSAP also, as per the information furnished by the Ministry of Rural Development.