:
(a) whether the Government have formulated National Policy for older persons;
(b) if so, the details thereof and funds allocated thereof;
(c) whether all the recommendation of the said policy have been implemented;
(d) if not, the reasons therefor;
(e) whether some short comings have been detected in this policy; and
(f) if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps taken/proposed by the Government to update the National Policy on Older Persons?
MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SMT. MANEKA GANDHI)
(a) & (b) Yes, Sir. The Government have announced a National Policy on Older Persons in
January 1999. The Policy provides a broad framework for intersectoral
collaboration and cooperation both within the Government as well as between
Government and Non-Governmental agencies. The major areas of intervention
include financial security, health care and nutrition, shelter/housing, protection of
life and property and general welfare of the elderly. The Policy is a document of
long term guiding principles for the welfare of older persons envisaging collective
effort of all concerned including the State, non-governmental agencies and the
community. As such, no separate fund allocation has been made for implementation
of the policy.
(c)&(d) As stated earlier, implementation of the provisions of the Policy requires a collective
effort of all of us. The coordinating responsibility rests with the Ministry of Social
Justice & Empowerment. A Statement (marked Annexure) showing the actions and
initiatives taken by this Ministry since the announcement of the Policy for its
implementation is laid on the Table of the House.
(e) No, Sir.
(f) Does not arise.
ANNEXURE
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (C) & (D) OF LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3892 FOR 13.12.2000 BY SHRI RAM CHANDER
BAINDA REGARDING POLICY ON OLDER PERSONS.
(i) National Council for Older Persons (NCOP) has been set up on 10th May, 1999 to operationalize the Policy. The first meeting of NCOP was held at New Delhi on 13th June, 2000. The members discussed the draft Action Plan for implementation of the National Policy on Older Persons.
(ii)Aadhar has been set up to function as Secretariat of NCOP. It is being administered by Agewell Foundation, an NGO, with the financial assistance from the Ministry. The major activities of Aadhar include receiving and taking follow up action on representations, the complaints and grievances of older persons.
(iii)Both the ongoing schemes of the Ministry for welfare of older persons have been reviewed and revised in the light of the National Policy.
(iv)The Ministry commissioned a project called OASIS (an acronym for Old Age Social and Income Security) and appointed an 8 Member Expert Committee, headed by Dr. S. A. Dave, former Chairman of UTI, to examine policy issues connected with old age income security in India and submit its recommendations to the Government. The Committee submitted its final report on 11.1.2000. The Government is examining the recommendations made in the Report.
(v)On the request of this Ministry, the Chief Justice of India advised Chief Justices of all High Courts in the Country to ensure expeditious disposal of Court Cases involving Older Persons.
(vi)Union Health Ministry has issued instructions to all the State Governments/UT Administrations for provision of separate queues for older persons at all stages.
(vii)At the initiative and with the financial assistance of this Ministry, a telephone Helpline for older persons has been started by an NGO called Agewell Foundation. This Helpline is functional since April, 1999.
(viii)National Institute of Social Defence has conducted a six months course during August`1999 to February`2000 for home care of elderly disabled persons. Subsequently, under the project National Initiative on Care for Elderly (NICE), three months courses are organized on care of older persons. This course will help to prepare a cadre of care-givers to render comprehensive care to the aged in their homes and in the community.
(ix)The Ministry has finalized an Action Plan for 2000-05 for implementation of the Policy. This has been circulated to concerned Departments/Ministries of the Central Government and state Governments/UT Administrations.