MINISTER FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI MUKUL WASNIK)
(a) to (f) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement referred to in parts (a) to (f) in reply to Lok Sabha Starred
Question No.64 for answer on 19.03.2012 regarding WELFARE OF SENIOR CITIZENS by:
DR. BHOLA SINGH and SHRI VIRENDRA KUMAR
(a) and (b): As per census 2001, the population of senior citizens in
the country was 7.7 crore. The following are some of the main problems
faced by senior citizens:
# Protection of life and property
# Health care
# Financial security
# Protection against ill-treatment
# Independent and productive living
# Care and support to needy senior citizens
(c): Some of the important Schemes being implemented for the welfare of
senior citizens are as follows:
1. Scheme of Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP)
2. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)
3. National Programme for the Health Care for the Elderly (NPHCE)
Brief details of the above schemes are given in the Annex.
Besides, the above, the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), an autonomous
body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, and three Regional Resource
and Training Centres (RRTCs) supported under the Scheme of IPOP, are imparting training
to service providers, working for the elderly.
(d) and (e): During the XIth five year plan period, evaluation studies were got conducted
to assess the impact of IPOP. Some of the major recommendations of these studies were
enhancement in financial norms, increase in the types of projects supported, and need
for engagement of specialized doctors in the centres, etc.
In view of the above recommendations, IPOP was revised w.e.f 1.4.2008. Besides revision
of the financial norms, several innovative projects e.g. Day Care Centre for Alzheimer`s
Disease/ Dementia Patients; Physiotherapy Clinics for Older Persons; Help-lines and
Counseling Centres for Older Persons; Regional Resource and Training Centres; etc.
were added as being eligible for financial assistance under the Scheme.
Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme has been revised w.e.f 1.4.2011, bringing
down the minimum age of eligibility under it from 65 years to 60 years, and increasing
the Central contribution towards pension amount, for those who are 80 years and above,
from Rs. 200/- to Rs. 500/- per month.
(f): Following are some of the steps which have been taken in this behalf:
# Publicity to legislative and programmatic provisions for senior citizens in the media.
# Sanction of three Regional Resource and Training Centres to augment the efforts
of the NISD in the areas of advocacy and capacity building.
# E-payment/telegraphic transfer of grant-in-aid directly into the bank accounts of
the grantee NGOs.
# Observance of International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) every year on 1st October,
and conferral of ‘Vayoshrestha Sammans’ on eminent senior citizens and Institutions, in
recognition of their contribution towards the cause of the elderly.
