PROGRAMMES AND POLICIES FOR ELDERLY

NATIONAL POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES:

 The problems of elderly has increased recently because of socio-economic changes,
ageing of the population is emerging as a problem that requires consideration before it
becomes critical.
 Although family and relatives still play a dominant role in providing economic and
social security for the elderly but still the majority of elderly need social, economic and
health support.
 Over the years, the government has launched various schemes and policies for elderly
persons. These policies and schemes are meant to promote the health, well-being and
independence of elderly people around the country.
RELEVANT CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS:
1.Article 41 of the Constitution:
According to Article 41 of the constitution of India, “the state shall, within the limits of its
economic capacity and development, make effective provision for right to work, to education
and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement and in
other cases of undeserved want.”
2.Article 47 of the Constitution:
state shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people
and improvement of public health as among its primary duties.
3.Some Other Constitutional Provisions
 Item 9 of the state list and item 20, 23 and 24 of concurrent list relates to old age
pension, social security and social insurance, and economic and social planning.
 The right of parents, without any means, to be supported by their children having
sufficient means has been recognized by section 125(1) (d) of the Code of Criminal
Procedure 1973, and section 20 (1 & 3) of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act,
1956.
 Among the administrative setup, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
focuses on policies and programmes for the elderly in close collaboration with State
Governments, Non-governmental Organizations and Civil Society.
LEGISLATIONS
1.Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007
 Section 19 of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007
envisages provision of at least one old age home for indigent senior citizens with a
capacity of 150 persons in every district of the country.
The objectives of the Act are:
  Revocation of transfer of property by senior citizens in case of negligence by
relatives.
 Maintenance of Parents/senior citizens by children/ relatives made obligatory and
justiciable through Tribunals.
 Pension provision for abandonment of senior citizens.
 Adequate medical facilities and security for senior citizens.
 Establishment of Old Age Homes for indigent Senior Citizens.
 It accords prime responsibility for the maintenance of parents on their children, grand
children or even relatives who may possibly inherit the property of a senior citizen.
VARIOUS POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT FOR
ELDERLY PEOPLE
 National Policy for Older Persons (NPOP) 1999 –International year of Elderly
 It was a step to promote the health, safety, social security and well-being of elderly in
India.
 GO’s and NGO’s also play role in providing care and facilities.
Objectives:
 Ensure the well being of the elderly.
 Encourage families to take care of their elderly members.
 Protection on financial security, health care, shelter and welfare including
protection against abuse and exploitation.
 Provide care and protection by for the elderly an equitable share in the benefits of
development.
 Adequate healthcare facility to the elderly
 create awareness regarding elderly persons to help them lead productive and
independent life.
 This policy has resulted in the opening of new schemes such as –
 Promotion of the concept of healthy ageing.
 Setting up of Directorates of Older Persons in the States.
 Training and orientation to medical and paramedical personnel in health care of the
elderly.
 Assistance to societies for production and distribution of material on elderly care.
National Council for Older Persons (NCOP)
 Constituted in 1999 by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to operationalize
the National Policy on Older Persons.
  Reconstituted in 2005
Objectives:
 Advise the Government on policies and programmes for older persons.
 Represent the opinion of the elderly to the government.
 Provides feed back to the government on implementation of specific programmes.
 work as a nodal point at the national level for redressing the grievances of elderly
people.
 undertake any other work or activity in the best interest of elderly people.
Central Sector Scheme of Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP) 1992, revised
in 2008 assistance is also by Panchayati raj and government bodies.
Objective of improving the quality of life of senior citizens by providing basic amenities like
food, shelter, medical care and encouraging for productive and active ageing.
Financial assistance up to 90% is by NGO’s.
INNOVATE PROJECTS:
 Maintenance of care homes.
 Sensitizing programmes for children particularly in schools and colleges.
 Resource and training centers for caregivers of elderly persons.
 Formation of associations for elderly.
 Helplines and counselling centers for older persons.
 Awareness Generation Programmes for elderly people and caregivers.
 Providing disability and hearing aids for the elderly people.
Inter-Ministerial Committee on Older Persons:
 It comprises 22 Ministries/Departments, and headed by the secretary, Ministry of Social
Justice and Empowerment is another coordination mechanism in implementation of the
NPOP.
 Action Plan on ageing issues for implementation by various Ministries/Departments
concerned is considered from time to time by the committee.
National Old Age Pension (NOAP) Scheme:1994
 The amount of old age pension varies in the different States as per their share to this
scheme.
 It is implemented in the State and Union Territories through Panchayats and
Municipalities.
 The assistance was available on fulfillment of the following criteria:-
  65 years or more should be the age of the applicant
 The applicants who have no regular means own source of income or through financial
support from family members or others.
The assistance was available on fulfillment of the following criteria:-
 65 years or more should be the age of the applicant
 The applicants who have no regular means own source of income or through financial
support from family members or others.
 Ministry is now implementing the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme
(IGNOAPS).
 It is for age group of 65 yrs. and below poverty line.
 Central government provides 200/- and state government gives 200/- total 400/- is given
per month.
 Later age limit has changed from 65 to 60 and above 80 yrs. are given 500/- per month
 This decision of the Government of India has been issued to all States/UTs vide letter
no. J11015/1/2011-NSAP dated 30th June, 2011.
National Programme for Health Care of Elderly (NPHCE) :
 It is an attribution of both international (UNCRPD)and national (NPOP) commitments
of the government.
 Section 20 of “The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007”
deals with provisional for medical care of senior citizen.
 Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) has taken appropriate steps in this
regard by launching the National Programme for Health Care of Elderly (NPHCE).
 It centrally sponsored scheme under the new initiatives in the XI five years plan.
Presently, it is being rolled out in 100 districts.
Core Strategies:
 Community based Primary Health Care approach including visits by trained health
care workers.
 Dedicated services at PHC/CHC level including provision of machinery, equipment,
training, additional human resources (CHC).
 Dedicated facilities at District Hospital with 10 bedded wards, additional human
resources, machinery, and equipment, consumable and drugs, training and IEC.
 Promotion of public and private partnerships in Geriatric Health Care.
 Mainstreaming AYUSH – revitalizing local health traditions, and convergence with
programmes of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in the field of geriatrics.
 Reorienting medical education to support geriatric issues.
National Policy on Senior Citizens 2011
 Foundation of this policy is based on demographic explosion among the elderly, the
changing economy and social milieu, advancement in medical research, science and
technology and high levels of destitution among the elderly rural poor.
 This policy advocates issues related to senior citizens living in urban and rural areas,
special needs of the ‘oldest old’ and older women.
 It believes in the development of a formal and informal social support system, so the
capacity to the family to take care of senior citizens is strengthened and they continue
to live in the family.
Focus of the policy:
 Promote the concept of Ageing, income security and homecare services, old age
pension and access to healthcare insurance schemes .
 The aim of the policy would be preventive rather than cure.
 Support promotion and establishment of senior citizens’ association, especially
amongst women.
 The institutional care as the last resort, care of senior citizens has to remain vested
in the family.
 Recognize the senior citizens are a valuable resource for the country and create an
environment that provides them with equal opportunities, protects their rights and
enables their full participation in society the quality of their lives improves.
 States will be advised to implement the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior
Citizens Act, 2007.
 States will set up homes with assisted living facilities for abandoned senior citizens in
every district of the country and there will be adequate budgetary support.
SOME OTHER IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES
International Day of Older Persons
 The International Day of Older Persons is celebrated every year on 1st October, 2009.
 the Hon’ble Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment flagged off “Walkathon” at
Raj path, India Gate, to promote inter-generational bonding.
 More than 3000 senior citizens/elderly people from across Delhi, NGOs working in the
field of elderly issues, and school children from different schools participated in this.

Role of Non-Governmental and voluntary organizations:

 Even the NGO’s will play a key role in assistance of old age people through many
services.
 Mainly concentrates on BPL people and disabled in the society.
  This is mainly because 1/3rd of the people are capability poor which means they do not
have minimum access for health care, education and decent living.
 services they are providing as residential care, day care, geriatric care, medical and
psychiatric care, recreation, financial assistance and counselling.
 voluntary organization which began work on the cause and care of the older people of
our country is Help Age India.
 It is a secular, a political, non profit, non governmental organization and is registered
under the Societies’ Registration Act, 1960.
 Help Age India was formed in 1978.
 Main aim is to raise the funds for creation of infrastructure through the medium of
voluntary social service organizations for providing a range of facilities especially
designed to benefit the elderly and thus to improve the quality of their lives.”
 Head office is located at New Delhi.
Old Age Homes and Day Care Centers:
 Help Age India has sponsored the construction and maintenance of old age homes in
India
 These homes cater to the needs of those elderly who are unable to live by themselves.
 These old age homes provide and cater to the various needs of the elderly so that they
can live with dignity and respect and not feel a burden to the society.
 There are over 800 old age homes all over India and nearly half of them are being
sponsored and funded by Help Age India.
 Besides old age homes, Help Age India also supports day care centers where the elderly
come for a few hours every day or on certain days of the week and spend some time
together.
SCHEMES OF OTHER MINISTRIES:
(i) Ministry of Railways
 Separate ticket counters for the elderly people at various Passenger Reservation System
Centers.
 Provision of Lower Berth Quota
 Provision of 30 percent discount in all Mails/Express.
 Provision of wheel chairs at stations for the disabled elderly passengers
 Railway grant 75 percent concession to Senior Citizens undergoing major heart/cancer
operations from starting station to Hospital station for self and one companion.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare:
  Central Government Health Scheme provides pensioners of central government offices
the facility to obtain medicines for chronic ailments up to three months at a stretch.
 Provision of separate queues for elderly people in governmental hospitals.
 Set up of two National Institutes on Ageing at Delhi and Chennai.
 Provision of Geriatric clinic in several government hospitals.
Ministry of Finance:
 Exemption from Income Tax for senior citizens of 60 years and above up to Rs. 2.50
lakh per annum.
 Exemption from Income Tax for senior citizens of 80 years and above up to Rs. 5.00
lakh per annum.
 For an individual who pays medical insurance premium for his/her parents or parents
who are elderly or senior citizen, deduction of Rs. 20,000 under section 80D is allowed.
 An individual is eligible for a deduction of the amount spent or Rs. 60,000, whichever
is less for medical treatment of a dependent elderly or senior citizen.
Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA): 2009
 Allowing entry into health insurance scheme till 65 years of age
 Provision of transparency in the premium charged.
 Reasons to be recorded for denial of any proposals on all health insurance products
catering to the needs of senior citizens.
Ministry of Civil Aviation:
 Under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the National Carrier, Air India provides
concession up to 50% for male aged 65 and female 63 yrs.
Ministry of Road Transport:
 The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways provides reservation of 2 front seats for
the elderly.
 In Punjab elderly women above 60 are free to travel, Kerala provides free services for
older freedom fighters.
Miscellaneous:
 Mumbai Police (1090), Dignity Foundation and many other organizations have given
help lines for senior citizens.
 MTNL gives 25 percent concession in rent of land line telephone.
 Postal Savings Schemes – Senior Citizens Saving Scheme (9 percent interest to elderly,
10,000 to 15 Lakhs), Monthly Income Scheme (Return of 8 percent and a bonus of 10
percent on maturity)
Insurance schemes:
  Government and private insurance companies introduced many schemes for elderly like
New Jeevan Dhara, New Jeevan Akshay, New Jeevan Suraksha, New Bima Nivesh,
Senior Citizen Unit Plan. Medical services like Medical Insurance Scheme, Jan Arogya
etc.
Senior Citizens Unit Plan (SCUP)
 SCUP have special arrangements with New India Assurance Co. Ltd. (NIAC) under an
exclusive medical insurance for above 58 yrs.
 Age group of 18-54 years can join this Scheme. The person may be a resident or a non-
resident Indian.
 The person will be entitled for a medical insurance cover of Rs 2.5 lakh after he/she
attains the age of 58 years for the citizen and their spouse.
 Above 58 yrs. up to 5 lakhs medical insurance.
Medical Insurance Scheme:
 Mediclaim is available to persons between the age of 5 years and 75 years.
 Earlier, the sum insured varies from Rs 15,000 to Rs 300,000 and premium varies from
Rs 175 to Rs 5,770 per person per annum.
 From 1999, these limits of benefits and the premium rates have since been revised. The
sum insured now varies from Rs 15,000 to Rs 500,000 and premium varies from Rs
201 to Rs 16,185 per person per annum.
Group Medical Insurance Scheme (5-80yrs)
 The sum insured varies from Rs 15,000 to Rs 500,000 and premium The policy covers
reimbursement of hospitalization and/or domiciliary hospitalization expenses only for
illness/diseases contracted or injury sustained by the insured person.
Jan Arogya
 The limit of cover per person is Rs 5,000 per annum.
 This scheme is primarily meant for the larger segment of the population who cannot
afford the high cost of medical treatment.
 Many policies and schemes for elderly is provided by Punjab government.
Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme(1995)
 Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), earlier called as
"National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS)" is a social sector scheme and forms part
of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)
 Age of the applicant (male or female) shall be 60 years or higher
 It provides pension 60-79yrs 200/- for month above 80 yrs. 500 per month.
Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP)
 This programme is run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
 Under this programme, grants are given for running and maintenance old age homes,
day care centers, mobile medicare units, multi-facility care center for older widows,
etc.
 The main objective of the scheme is to improve the quality of life of older persons by
providing basic amenities like shelter, food and medical care.
 Funds under the scheme of IPOP are not released to the states, but released to the
implementing agencies like NGOs.
 In the year 2016-17, a total of 396 old age homes were given grants under this scheme.
 The total grant amount was Rs 36.99 crore covering a total of 40,200 beneficiaries
Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)
 The fund was notified in the year 2016. All unclaimed amounts from small savings
accounts, PPF and EPF are to be transferred to this fund.
 The estimated outlay of the Scheme is Rs 483.6 crore up to 2019-20. The scheme will
be implemented in 260 districts and benefit 5,20,000 beneficiaries up to 2019-2
Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)
 The Ministry of Rural Development runs the National Social Assistance Programme
(NSAP) that extends social assistance for poor households- for the aged, widows,
disabled, and in cases of death where the breadwinner has passed away
 Central assistance of Rs 200 per month is provided to person in the age group of 60-79
years and Rs 500 per month to persons of 80 years and above.
Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana (VPBY)
 This scheme is run by the Ministry of Finance. The (VPBY) was first launched in 2003
and then relaunched in 2014.
 These schemes are implemented through Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India.
The Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana
 launched in May 2017 to provide social security during old age.
 This is a simplified version of the VPBY and will be implemented by the Life
Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India.
 Under the scheme, on payment of an initial lump sum amount ranging from Rs 1,50,000
for a minimum pension of Rs 1000 per month to a maximum of Rs 7,50,000/- for a
maximum pension of Rs 5,000 per month.
National Programme for the Health Care of Elderly (NPHCE)
  The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare had launched the (NPHCE) during 2010-11
to address various health related problems of elderly people.
 Geriatric OPD and 10-bedded geriatric ward at district hospitals.
 Bi-weekly geriatric clinic at community health centers (CHC)
 Weekly geriatric clinic at primary health centers (PHC)
 Provision of aids and appliances at sub-centers.
 The Centre will bear 75 percent of the total budget and the state government will
contribute 25 percent of the budget, for activities up to district level.
STATE GOVERNMENT
Aasara pensions- It provides its services for old age people and widowers per month from
200-1000 rupees.
For the disabled one’s from 1000-1500 rupees.
REFERENCES:
 Dr. Naveen Sharma.2014Government policies and programmes for the aged in India.
■ Ministry of health and family welfare. New Delhi: Director General of Health Services,
MOHFW, Government of India; 2011. National Program for Health Care of the Elderly
(NPHCE): Operational Guidelines 2011.
■ 2. Central Statistics Office. New Delhi: Central Statistics Office Ministry of Statistics
and Programme Implementation, Government of India; 2011. Situation Analysis of the
Elderly in India.
■ 3. Central Statistics Office. New Delhi: National Sample Survey Organization, Ministry
of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India; 2006. Morbidity,
Health Care and the Condition of the Aged. NSSO (64th round) Jan-June 2004.
■ 4. National Programme for the Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE): An approach
towards active and healthy ageing. Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. 2011. [Last accessed on 2012 Oct
17]. Available from: http://www.health.bih.nic.in/Docs/Guidelines-NPHCE.pdf .
■ 5. National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly. India current affairs 2011. A
leading resource of online information of India. [Last accessed on 2012 Oct 20].
Available from: http://www.indiacurrentaffairs.org/
■ https://www.thequint.com/news/india/government-schemes-for-senior-citizens