DR.
JATIYA OUTLINES WELFARE PROGRAMMES FOR CARE OF OLDER PERSONS
Dr. Satyanarayan
Jatiya, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment informed
the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to the Ministry
last evening that rapid industrialization and resultant migration
is breaking down the family and community structure. The erosion
of the joint family system has led the elderly often being victims
of emotional neglect lacking physical and financial support and
having a lowered sense of self-worth.
Outlining the
Government’s initiatives for welfare of older persons, Dr. Jatiya
informed that some of the Ministries have already initiated action.
Department of Telecommunications has announced the Government
decision to give telephone connections to senior citizens aged
65 years and above on priority. Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare have issued instructions to all the State Governments
to provide separate queues for older persons in hospitals at every
stage. Chief Justices of all High Courts in the country have been
advised by the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India to accord priority
to cases involving older persons and ensure their expeditious
disposal. Concession in fare is provided by the Railways and Civil
Aviation Ministries. Tax concession is provided by the Ministry
of Finance. Specific insurance schemes have been designed by the
Life Insurance Corporation, New India Assurance etc. Some public
sector banks also allow higher interest on deposits by the elderly.
Under the National Old Age Pension Scheme central assistance @
Rs.75/- per month is provided to the States/UTs for providing
pension to destitutes aged 65 years and above.
Dr. Jatiya
informed that a new initiative to address the grievances of the
older persons namely, AADHAR is being run in collaboration with
an NGO, the Agewell Foundation, New Delhi. 6000 Zila AADHAR Members/Associates
in 525 Districts are working in this system. These Members/Associates
play a vital role in helping the elderly persons to solve their
problems by following these up with the agencies/organizations
to which the matters of grievances/complaints relate.
The Minister
further informed that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
had commissioned a National Project titled OASIS (Old Age Social
and Income Security). An eight-member Expert Committee headed
by Dr. S.A. Dave, former Chairman of Unit Trust of India, was
set up to examine policy questions connected with old age. The
final report of the Project OASIS has since been presented to
this Ministry.
The Minister further
stated that 391 Old Age Homes, 469 Day Care Centres and 83 Mobile
Medical Units have been established in different parts of the
country under a Scheme of Assistance to Panchayati Raj Institutions/Voluntary
Organisations/Self Help Groups for construction of old age homes/multi
service centres for older persons.
The Minister of
State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri S.B. Mookherjee
also addressed the Members.
The Hon’ble Members,
who participated in the meeting are Shri Ramji Lal Suman, Smt.
K.K. Premajam, Shri Praveen S. Rastrapal and Shri K.H. Muniyappa,
all from Lok Sabha.
