March 8, 2002

LOK SABHA

‘10’

391 OLD AGE HOMES SET UP WITH CENTRAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

    391 Old Age Homes have been set-up across the country by more than 600 NGOs with financial assistance from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Stating this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today, the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya said that this has benefited about 9,800 senior citizens in 20 states. He said that NGOs are provided with 90 percent of total expenditure subject to a ceiling of Rs.2,76,412 as recurring and Rs. 64,687 as non-recurring grant per old age home per annum. Dr. Jatiya said the NGOs have been also provided financial assistance for setting up 469 Day Care Centres, 83 Mobile Medicare Units and two non-institutional service centres. Referring to other facilities being provided to senior citizens, Dr. Jatiya said 10 kgs. of food grains is distributed to each destitute elderly every month under the Annapruna Scheme. He said that priority is given for telephone connections and to grievance redressal to senior citizens above 65 years. Senior citizens are also allowed concessional fares for rail and air travel. Some public sector banks are also allowing higher interest on deposits by the elderly. Dr. Jatiya said that all states/union territories have been advised to provide for separate queues for elderly persons in hospitals.