As per the Report of Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) (Wave-I) from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare around 5.2% of senior citizens surveyed reported ill-treatment/ abuse.
Initiatives being implemented by Government of India to support and rehabilitate the elderly persons of the country
- Department of Social Justice and Empowerment
The National Policy on Older Persons, 1999 envisages State support to ensure financial and food security, health care, shelter, protection and other needs of older persons to improve quality of their lives.
The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act was enacted in December 2007 to ensure need based maintenance of parents and senior citizens and their welfare including shelter, healthcare, protection of life and property, against abandonment etc.
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing Atal VayoAbhyudayYojana (AVYAY) for senior citizens. AVYAY has the following components for providing different services to senior citizens:-
(i) Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC)- Grant in aid is provided to implementing agencies for running and maintenance of senior citizen homes, continuous care homes, etc. Facilities like shelter, nutrition, medicare and entertainment are provided free of cost to indigent senior citizens living in Sr. Citizen homes.
- RashtriyaVayoshriYojana (RVY)- for bringing near normalcy in the bodily functions of those BPL senior citizens who suffer from age related disabilities/ infirmities, by providing them with free of cost assisted living devices. w.e.f. 01.04.2020 special items like wheelchairs with commode, silicon foam cushion etc. are also provided under the Scheme, besides generic items like walking sticks, elbow crutches, hearing aid etc.
(iii) Able Citizens for Re-Employment in Dignity (SACRED) Portal– Many senior citizens have experience, time and energy which can be used by the business enterprises looking for stable employees with experience. The Human resources cells of many private enterprises seek experienced but stable persons in certain positions. The portal allows bringing these people together by virtual matching of preferences.
- Action Groups Aimed at Social Reconstruction (AGRASR Groups)– Elderly Self Help groups – The Senior Citizens are encouraged to form Self-Help Groups (SHGs), to provide them with a platform to share the time constructively with each other. To attain financial assistance under the scheme, SHGs will function as ‘Action Groups Aimed at Social Reconstruction (AGRASR Groups)’. Such SHGs are formed of senior citizens, and may choose any suitable activity that keeps the Group financial sustainable.
(v) Promoting Silver Economy –to encourage the entrepreneurs to think about the problems of the elderly and come out with innovative solutions, by providing uptoRs. 1 crore as financial assistance in the form of maximum 49% equity participation, through an open invitation on a portal namely Seniorcare Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE).
- Elderline– Help line for Sr Citizens on Toll free number 14567 launched for grievance redressal of Senior Citizens and to generate awareness about the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (MWPSC) Act, 2007 and Government Policies. The Elderline functions from 8 am to 8 pm all 7 days of the week. The Elderline also provides field intervention in case of abuse reported by a senior citizen.
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is implementing the “National Programme for the Health Care of Elderly” under which funds are sanctioned, as the State proposals, for the following:-
- Development of minimum 10 bedded geriatric ward (both male and female) in each District Hospital (DH) through new construction/ extension/ renovation,
- Out Patient Department (OPD) set-up at District Hospital (DH), Community Health Centre (CHC), Primary Health Centre (PHC),
- Equipment for OPD, ward, physiotherapy units/ services at DH and CHC,
- In Regional Geriatric Centres (RGCs) at 19 Medical Colleges funds sanctioned for infrastructure development of minimum 30 bedded ward, speciality OPD and physiotherapy unit,
- In the two National Centres for Ageing (NCA) at Madras Medical College, Chennai and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi funds sanctioned for development of minimum 200 bedded ward, speciality clinics, physiotherapy unit, diagnostics, etc.
- Modules alongwith facilitator guides developed for ‘comprehensive geriatric assessment and care delivery’ for 3 cadres – Medical Officers (MO), staff nurses and community based workers of DHs and CHCs. State level training of trainers conducted to develop master trainers for below district trainings.
- Under Ayushman Bharat Health Welfare Centres (HWC) 5 sets of modules developed for geriatric care training of Medical Officers (MO), Staff Nurse, ASHA, ANM etc. At PHCs and HWCs National and State level Training of Trainers conducted.
- Orientation trainings of State and District level functionaries of all Non Communicable Disease (NCD) programmes to sensitize them about NPHCE and geriatric issues.
- Ministry of Rural Development
The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) Division of the Ministry of Rural Development implements the scheme of Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension (IGNOAPS) under which old age pension is provided to BPL senior citizens.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Sushri Pratima Bhoumik in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha Wednesday.
