Lok Sabha Question No. 2573 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-01
Subject: Social Security for  Senior Citizens
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: NEELAM SONKER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †2573 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2017

## SOCIAL SECURITY FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

## †2573. SHRIMATI NEELAM SONKER:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  committed  towards  making  available  social  security  including compulsory pension scheme, housing scheme and health services for the senior citizens above 60 years of age;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether the Government has implemented rules to provide health facilities on the lines of CGHS to all senior citizens above 60 years of age;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to grant compulsory old age pension to all senior citizens of the country; and
- (e) if so, the time by which the Government is likely to make announcement in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)

(a) to (c) As per the information furnished by Ministry of Rural Development, old age pension is provided under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme(IGNOAPS) to the beneficiaries belonging  to  below  poverty  line(BPL)  household  only.  Under  the  scheme  Rs.  200/-  pm  is provided to the beneficiaries of age 60-79 years and Rs. 500/- is provided in the age of 80 years or more. IGNOAPS is implemented by the States/UTs.

Ministry  of  Housing  and  Urban  Affairs  has  launched  Pradhan  Mantri  Awas  Yojna (Urban) {PMAY(U} Mission for providing assistance to States/UTs in addressing the housing requirement  of  all  urban  poor.  The  Mission  comprises  four  components    viz  in-situ  slum redevelopment; affordable housing through credit-linked subsidy; affordable housing in partnership; and subsidy for beneficiary-led individual house construction.

PMAY(U) Mission emphasizes that preference in allotment of houses may be given, inter alia, to senior citizens and other weaker and vulnerable sections of the society. The guidelines further  provide  that  while  making  allotments,  families  with  persons  with  disability  and  senior citizens may be allotted houses preferably on the ground floor or lower floors.

So far  in  health  services  to  the  elderly  is  concerned,  the  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family Welfare had launched "National Programme for the Health Care of Elderly" (NPHCE) during 2010-11 to address various health related problems of elderly people. The major objectives of the NPHCE  are  establishment  of  Department  of  Geriatric    in  identified  Medical  Institutions  as Regional Geriatric Centres for different regions of the country and to provide dedicated health facilities in District Hospitals, Community Health Centres(CHCs), Primary Health Centres(PHCs)  and  Sub-Centres(SCs)  levels  through  State  Health  Society.  The  health  care facilities, being provided under this programme, are either free or highly subsidised. Following facilities are being provided under the Programme:

- Geriatric  OPD,  30  bedded  Geriatric  ward  for  in-patient  care,  etc  at  Regional  Geriatric Centres.
- Geriatric OPD and 10 bedded Geriatric Ward at District Hospitals.
- Bi-weekly Geriatric Clinic at Community health Centres (CHCs).
- Weekly Geriatric Clinic at Primary Health Centre (PHCs).
- Provision of Aids and Appliances at Sub-centres.

(d) & (e) As informed by the Ministry of Rural Development, at present, there is no proposal, under consideration of MoRD to grant compulsory old age pension to all senior citizens of the country.

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