(a) the schemes implemented for the welfare of senior citizens in Gujarat;
(b) the funds released and utilised for these schemes in Gujarat during the last three years;
(c) whether request for allocating more funds for the welfare schemes of senior citizens in Gujarat has been made by the State and if so, the action taken in this regard; and
(d) the number of old age homes functioning in Gujarat at present, location-wise?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)
(a) to (c): The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (SJE) is implementing a Central Sector Scheme of Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC) since 1992, under which grant in aid is given to Implementing Agencies (IAs) such as NGOs/VOs/States/UTs through registered Societies for running and maintenance of Senior Citizens Homes/ Continuous Care Homes/ Mobile Medicare Units etc. The main objective of the Scheme is to improve the quality of life of Older Persons by providing basic amenities like shelter, food, medical care and entertainment opportunities etc.
Details of fund released in Gujarat under IPSrC to implementing agencies are as under:
S.No. Year Amount released and Utilised (in Lakh)
1. 2016-17 1.24
2. 2017-18 4.48
3. 2018-19 20.53
Besides IPSrC, the scheme of “Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana” (RVY) is being implemented with the objective to provide aids and assisted living devices viz. walking sticks, elbow crutches, walkers/crutches, tripods/quadpods, hearing aid, wheelchairs, artificial dentures and spectacles free of cost to Senior Citizens belonging to BPL category. The Scheme is implemented through funding to the ‘Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO)’ (a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment). As on date, 12 districts in Gujarat have been selected for implementation of the Scheme, out of which distribution camps have been held in 04 districts namely Vadodara, Bharuch, Ahemdabad and Gandhi Nagar.
As per information received from Ministry of Rural Development, Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) is implemented in all the State/UTs including Gujarat under which central assistance is provided to the elderly persons belonging to BPL household. Under IGNOPAS, central assistance of Rs. 200/- per month is provided to the beneficiaries of age of 60-79 years and Rs. 500/- per month is provided to the beneficiaries of age of 80 years and higher. Details of funds released to the State of Gujarat during last three years are as under:
Year 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
Fund released to Gujarat (Rs. in Lakh) 18390.27 13414.34 14763.55
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also been implementing 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. National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE) has two components with the following provisions to provide health care facilities to the elderly people in the country:-
(1) National Health Mission (NHM) component: The district and below activities of the programme are 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.
(2) 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.
Pradhan Mantri 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 upto Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalization.
(d): the details of Senior Citizen Homes functioning in state of Gujarat at present under IPSrC, location-wise are at Annexure-I.
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