Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Social Security for Senior Citizens
Posted On: 21 DEC 2022 4:57PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, through its various schemes tries to provide help and security to the senior citizens. The Department addresses issues related to senior citizens through Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY). The Scheme has following components for senior citizens:-
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.
Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (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.
Promoting Silver Economy –to encourage the entrepreneurs to think about the problems of the elderly and come out with innovative solutions, by providing upto Rs. 1 crore as financial assistance in the form of maximum 49% equity participation, through an open invitation on a portal namely Senior care Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE).
Help line for Sr Citizens on Toll free number 14567 namely ‘Elderline’ was launched on date 01.10.2021 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.
Under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Penson Scheme (IGNOAPS) of the the Ministry of Rural Development senior citizens upto the age of 79 years are provided ₹ 200 per month as old age pension. The pension amount is increased to ₹ 500 per month on attaining the age of 80 years.
The major recommendations of Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment regarding Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2019 are at Annexure.
The percentage of population of senior citizens as per Census 2011 is 8.57% of the total population. As per May 2006 Report of the Technical Group on Population Projections constituted by the National Commission on Population published by the Office of the Registrar General of India, there shall be 17.32 crore senior citizens in the country.
Annexure
Major recommendations of Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment regarding Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2019
(i) Payment of Honorarium should be given to the Conciliation Officer, as per guidelines prescribed by the State Government.
(ii) Maintenance Tribunals should work in digital environment.
(iii) Suitable training should be given to the Maintenance officers.
(iv) Annual compliance reports pertaining to the Maintenance Orders should be submitted by the Maintenance officers.
(v) Facilities for counselling on demand should be provided in District Hospitals.
(vi) Sensitization of stakeholders should be done through awareness campaigns, schoold curricula, electronic, print media, etc.
(vii) State Government should prepare and implement a comprehensive action plan for the welfare of senior citizens including protection of their life and property and shall provide adequate manpower to the District Social Welfare Offices to implement the same and attend to the grievances received by them.
(viii) Maintenance Tribunals and Special Police Units should compulsorily have offices on the ground floor and other facilities such as access ramps and toilets for senior citizens are adequately provided for.
(ix) A Helpline for Senior Citizens should be established.
(x) All necessary measures should be taken to suitably empower and inform senior citizens through skill training, digital and financial literacy.
(xi) For those Government servants, who are single child of their parents, appropriate relaxation may be made under Leave Rules to attend to the needs of parents, if they are above 80 years of age or are completely disabled/bedridden/Terminally ill.
This information was given by The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Sushri Pratima Bhoumik in the Rajya Sabha in a written reply today.
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