Lok Sabha Question No. 996 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-22
Subject: Welfare Schemes for Senior Citizens
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: SRINIVAS KESINENI

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 996 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 . 11.201 6

## WELFARE SCHEMES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

## 996. SHRI KESINENI NANI:

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

(a) the percentage of senior citizens covered under the welfare schemes of the Govern senior citizens in the country;

- (b) whether the Government has any plans to increase th e coverage of the senior citizens under these schemes;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether there is any specific health insurance schemes for senior citizens and if s thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): Data regarding the percentage of senior citizens covered under the welfare the  Government  for  senior  citizens  in  the  country  is  not  maintained  in  this  Mini Ministry  of  Social  Justice  and  Empow erment  periodically  requests  State s/UT  Governments, where  the  coverage  is  less  to  send  more  proposals  for  receiving  of  grants - in - aid  under  the Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP).

As per information received from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Minis launched  the  programme,  namely  'National  Programme  for  the  Health  Care  of  Elderly (NPHCE)' during  2010 -11  to  address  various  health  related  problems  of  elderly  peo ple. The major  objectives  of  the  NPHCE  are  establishment  of  Department  of  Geriatrics  in  ide Medical  Institution  as  Regional  Geriatric  Centres  for  different  regions  of  the  coun provide  dedicated  health  facilities  in  District  Hospitals,  Comm unity  Health  Centres  (CHCs), Primary  Health  Centres  (PHCs)  and  Sub - Centres  (SCs)  levels  trough  State  Health  Society During financial  year 2016 - 17,  a  total  no.  of  415  districts  of  34  States/UTs  have  so  fa approved  for  implementation  under  the  Program me.  Under  the  tertiary  level  activit ies  of  the programme namely, 'Rashtriya  Varishth  Jan  Swasthya  Yojana  (RVJSY)',  so  far  15  identified Medical Institutions, have been funded for development of 'Regional Geriatric Centres (RGCs)' at the various regions of the country. Also, 02 National Centres of Ageing (NCAs) have bee approved to be set - up during the remaining period of 12 th Five year Plan, within the premises of All  India  Institute  of  Medical  Sciences  (AIIMS),  New  Delhi  and  Madras  Medical  Col (MMC), Chennai.

As per information furnished by the Ministry of Rural Development, Old Age Pensi provided  under  Indira  Gandhi  National  Old  Age  Pension  Scheme  (IGNOAPS)  under  the National  Social  Assistance  Programme  (NSAP),  which  is  a  social  welfare programme  for persons living below poverty line (BPL) implemented in rural as well as in urban areas.

Under IGNOAPS, a central assistance of Rs. 200/ -per month is provided to the BPL persons of the age group of 60 to 79 years and Rs. 500/ -per month is pr ovided to the BPL persons of 80 years or above .During 2015 - 16, 2.21 crore beneficiaries were covered under the IGNOAPS. A present,  the  Ministry  of  Rural  Development  is  not  considering  any  proposal  to  incr coverage of beneficiaries.

(d): As per in formation received from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the S Citizens Health Insurance Scheme (SCHIS) has been implemented w.e.f. 01.04.2016, as a over the existing 'Rasthriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBU)'. The SCHIS provides enhance d coverage of Rs. 30,000/ - per senior citizen in the family eligible for coverage under RSBY. At present,  5  states  viz.  Gujarat,  Karnataka,  Kerala,  Tripura  and  Nagaland  are  impl SCHIS. Apart from this scheme, there is no other Health Insurance sche me for senior citizens.

There is no specific health insurance scheme for senior citizens under the NSAP also, information furnished by the Ministry of Rural Development.

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