Lok Sabha Question No. 617 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-25
Subject: Welfare Schemes for Senior Citizens
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: N.K. Premachandran

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 617 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.06.2019

## WELFARE SCHEMES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

## 617. SHRI N.K PREMACHANDRAN:

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

- whether the Government proposes to launch,special programme for resolving the issues of senior citizens and if SO, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it has come to the notice of the Government that a number of senior citizens" were deserted by their children; good
- (c) if so, the action taken by the Government to protect the rights of.senior citizens to stay with their children;
- (d) whether the Government  proposes to introduce any scheme   for ensuring the economic stability of senior citizens and if so. the details thereof:
- (e whether the Government proposes to provide the service of experts in the field of psychology SO aS t0 resolve the psychological problems of senior citizens; and

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)

- (a): Different Ministries Department of Government run several  Schemes and Programmes for the welfare of Senior Citizens, the details of which are at ANNEXURE.
- (b) & (c): It is understood from media reports that such instances happen. However data in this regard, is not maintained in this   Ministry. Further; as per  the Seventh Scheduled of the Constitution of India: Police and Public Order' are State subjects, and as such the primary responsibility of  prevention,  detection,  registration,  investigation and   prosecution of   crime including crime Senior Citizens lies with the State Governments/UT Administrations. against
- (d) For economic stability, Schemes of Pradhan Mantri Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) and Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) are implemented by Department of Financial Service, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Rural Development respectively. Vaya being

(e) &(f): As informed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Government of India is implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) since 1982 to address the burden of mental disorders including for Senior Citizens. The Government is supporting implementation of the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) under NMHP in 655 districts of the country for detection, management and treatment of mental disorderlillness. The Government; under the National   Mental Health Programme (NMHP): is also implementing manpower   development schemes for establishment of Centres for Excellence and strengthening/ establishment of Post Graduate (PG) Departments in mental health specialities with the objective to address the acute shortage of qualified mental health  professionals in the country: Till date, support has been provided for establishment of 23 Centres of Excellence and strengthening/ establishment of 46 Post Graduate (PG) Departments in mental health specialities in the country.

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## Annexure referred to in point (a) ofreply to theLok Sabha Unstarred Question no 617 tobe answered on 25.06.2019

Following Schemes and Programmes are being run by the variousMinistries /Departments of Government of India, for welfare of Senior Citizens:

- 1\_ The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing a Central Sector Scheme namely "Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC)" {previously known as "Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP)"} under which grants in aid are given for running and maintenance of Senior Citizens Homes (Old Age Homes) /Continuous Care Homes, Mobile Medicare Units etc to the Implementing Agencies such as State Governments [Union Territory Administrations (through Registered Societies) / Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) Local bodies; Non-Governmental /Voluntary Organizations. Under the Scheme grant is released after the receipt of Utilization Certificate of previous grant
2. Further, this Ministry has launched the 'Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) on 1st April, 2017 with an objective to provide senior citizens, belonging to BPL category and suffering from age related disabilities/ infirmities; with such physical aids and assisted devices which can restore near normalcy in their bodily functions. Under the Scheme, assisted living devices such as walking sticks, elbow crutches, walkers, crutches, tripods/ quadpods, hearing aids, wheelchairs, artificial dentures, spectacles are provided free of cost to the identified beneficiary senior citizens. The Scheme is-being-implemented by the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCOJ", a Public Sector Undertaking under this Ministry: The devices are distributed in the camp mode to the identified beneficiaries The Scheme is being funded from Senior Citizens' Welfare Fund (SCWF): living
- 3 In pursuance of the Budget Announcement; 2015-16, a "Senior Citizens' Welfare Fund" has been created to be utilized for such schemes, for promoting financial security of senior citizens, healthcare and nutrition of senior citizens, welfare of elderly widows, schemes relating to Old Age Homes, Short Stay Homes and Care of senior citizens etc , for the promotion of the welfare of senior citizens The Fund comprises of the unclaimed amounts transferred by every institution holding such fund in the Schemes including Small Savings and other Saving Schemes of the Central Government such as Post Office Savings Accounts, Post Office Recurring Deposits Accounts etc,, Accounts of Public Provident Funds and Accounts of Employees Provident Fund, that remain unclaimed for a period of seven years from the date ofthe account being declared as inoperative account Day
- 4 The Fund is administered by an Inter-Ministerial Committee,  comprising of Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Rural

Development; Ministry of  Housing & Urban Affairs and Ministry of Labour and Employment; with Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment as the Nodal Ministry for administration ofthe Fund:

- 5 In pursuance of the National Policy for Older Persons (NPOP), a National Council for Older Persons (NCOP) was constituted in 1999 to oversee implementation of the Policy and to advise the Government in the formulation and implementation' of policy and programmes for the The National Council for Older Persons. (NCOP) has been reconstituted and renamed as National Council of Senior Citizens-(NCSrC) in 2012. The mandate of NCSrC is to advise Central and State Governments on the entire gamut of issues related to welfare of senior citizens and enhancement of their quality of life: The Hon'ble Minister, Social Justice and Empowerment is the Chairperson of the Council aged.
- 6 In order to recognize the efforts made by eminent Senior-Citizens and Institutions involved in rendering distinguished services.for the cause of elderly persons, especially indigent senior citizens, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment started celebrating International of Older Persons (IDOP), since 1st October, 2005, giving 'Vayoshreshtha Samman' in recognition to their contribution to the society. Further, in order to showcase the Government's concern for: senior citizens and its commitment towards senior citizens with the aim of strengthening their legitimate place in the society, the Vayoshrestha Samman-was upgraded to National Award and the Scheme of National Awards for Senior Citizens was notified in the Gazette of India on 22.01.2013: The Awards are given under thirteen categories The National Awards were presented for the first time during 2013, on 1st October, on the occasion of International of Older Persons (IDOP): On 1st October every year, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment also organizes Health Camps, Inter-generational walkathons etc: in different States with active participation of Senior Citizens, Youth, Celebrities and Media-persons etc Day Day

## Ministry ofRural Development

7. National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Ministry  of Rural   Development NSAP is a social    security/social welfare   programme applicable to old aged, widows,  disabled persons and bereaved families on death of primary bread winner, belonging to below poverty line household  Old age pension is provided under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) to the persons belonging to below poverty line (BPL) household Central assistance of Rs. 200/per month is provided to the persons of 60-79 years of age and-Rs. 500/- per month to the persons of age of. 80 years or more: This Scheme is implemented by the States/UTs. Identification of beneficiaries, sanction and disbursement of benefit under the schemes is done by the States/UTs.

- Top-up details as given by State Governments/UT Administrations:

| S,No:   | Top-up per person per month   | States/UTs                                                               |
|---------|-------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1       | No top-up                     | Arunachal Pradesh,Nagaland,Manipur                                       |
| 2       |                               | Meghalaya,Mizoram                                                        |
|         | Top-up ofRs75L                | Madhya Pradesh                                                           |
| 4       | Top-upofRs10O;                | Chhattisgarh, Odisha,Uttar Pradesh                                       |
| 5_      |                               | Assam, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir                                          |
| 6.      | Top-up ofRs; 250              | Kerala, Punjab,_West Bengal_                                             |
| 7.      | Top-upofRs 300                | Rajasthan, Tripura, Karnataka                                            |
| 8       | Top-upofRs400_                | Bihar; Maharashtra,Sikkim                                                |
| 9_      | Top-upof Rs 6005              | Uttarakhand                                                              |
| 10:     | Top-up ofRs. 800/-            | Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli,_Daman & DiuLakshadweep |
| 11.     |                               | ChandigarhDelhi,_Himachal Pradesh, Telangana                             |
| 12      | Top-up ofRs 1200E             | Haryana                                                                  |
| 13.     | Top-up of Rs 1800             |                                                                          |

## Department of Food and Public Distribution

9. Department of Food and Public Distribution allocates food grains as per requirements projected by the Ministry of Rural Development under the Annapurna Scheme, wherein indigent Senior Citizens, who are not getting pension-under IGNOAPS, are provided 10 kg of food grains per person per month free of cost:
10. Department of Food and Public Distribution implements Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), under which rice and wheat at a highly subsidised cost, is extended to households, headed by widows/terminally ill/disabled persons/senior citizens, with no assured means of maintenance or societal support:

## Ministry of Finance:

- Ministry of Finance has   launched a scheme namely ` 'Pradhan Mantri   Vaya Vandana Yojana' (PMVVY) to protect elderly persons 60 years and above against a future fall in their interest income due to the uncertain market condition, as also to provide social security during old age. The scheme is being implemented through Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India. The scheme provides an assured return of 8% per annum payable monthly for 10 years The differential return ie. the difference between return generated by LIC and the assured return of &%per annum would be borne by Government of India as subsidy on annual basis The scheme was open for subscription for a period of aged

3

one year i.e. from 4th 2017 to 3rd 2018. The minimum purchase price under the scheme was Rs. 1.5 lakh per family for a minimum pension of Rs. 1,000 /- per month and the maximum purchase was Rs. 7.5 lakh per family for a maximum pension of Rs 5,000 /- per month: May May price

12. In pursuance to Budget Announcement 2018-19, Cabinet at its Meeting held on Znd 2018 has approved the extension of Pradhan Mantri Yaya Vandana-Yojana up to 31st March 2020 and limit of maximum purchase of Rs. 7.5 lakh per family under the scheme has also been enhanced to Rs. 15 lakh per senior citizen. Accordingly, the maximum pension admissible under the Scheme is now Rs. 10,000/- per month A total of number of 3,67,998 subscribers are being benefited under PMVVY as on 31.05.2019. May, price
13. Further, Ministry of Finance  provides Income Tax Rebate to Senior Citizens: Income Tax exemption for Senior Citizens of 60 years and above age is upto Rs. 3 lakhs and only 5% is levied on income between 3 lakhs and 5 lakhs Senior citizens above 80 years and above age are exempted from paying income tax upto Rs 5 lakhs: Deduction in case of every senior citizens u/s 8ODDB of the Income Tax Act on expenditure on account of specified diseases has been increased, To incentivize younger generation to look after medical needs of their parents, section 80D of IT. Act provides for a deduction to keep in force insurance on the health of the parents or parents ofthe assesse A similar deduction is also available to a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) in respect of health insurance premia, to effect or to in force insurance 0n the health of any member of the HUF. Further, the existing provisions of section 207 of the Income-Tax Act; 1961 exempts individual resident senior citizens (60+ years) at any time during the previous year, from payment of advance tax who does not have any income chargeable under the head 'Profits and gains of business or profession' . keep
14. Under the Service Tax law, activities   relating to  advancement of education programmes or skill development relating to persons over the age of 65 years residing in a rural area by an entity registered under Section 12AA of the Income Tax Act; 1961 are exempt from Service Tax With respect to senior citizens having Savings Account in Banks and Post Offices, higher interest rates is given to the senior citizens:

## 15. Scheme for Reverse Mortgage:

The Scheme was iaunched in 2007. Under the Scheme, senior citizens can mortgage their property with Bank and can get a maximum loan amount up to 60% of the value of the residential property. The maximum tenure of the mortgage is 15 years and minimum is 10 years; Some banks are now also offering a maximum tenure of 20 years:

16. Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA); under the Ministry of Finance, vide letter:dated 25.5.2009 issued instructions on health insurance for senior citizens to CEOs ofall General Health Insurance Companies which, inter-alia, includes:
2. Allowing entry into health insurance scheme till 65 years ofage,
3. Transparency in the premium charged
4. Likewise the insurance companies cannot renewability without specific reasons: deny
5. Reasons to be recorded for denial of any  proposals etc: on all health insurance products catering to the needs of senior citizens:

## Ministry of Textiles

17. Ministry of Textiles has a Scheme under which a monthly financial assistance of Rs. 3,500/- per month is given to such handicrafts awardee artisans who are above 60 years ofage and have an annual income ofless than Rs 50,000/-

## Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare

18. Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare monitors  and: ensures, that the retiring Central Government employees are granted retirement benefits including pension, so that they can live an active and dignified life after retirement;

## Ministry of HomeAffairs

19. The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued two detailed advisories dated 27-3-2008 and 30-8-2013 to all States Governments/UTs advising them to take immediate measures to ensure safety and security and for elimination of all forms of neglect, abuse and violence against old persons through initiatives such as identification of senior citizens, sensitization of police personnel regarding safety, security of older persons, regular visit of the beat staff; setting up of toll free senior citizen helpline; setting up of senior citizen security cell; verification of domestic helps, drivers etc

## Department of Empowerment ofPersons with Disabilities

20. Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) in 2015 as a nation-wide Campaign for achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs} Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign) aims to enable persons with disabilities to universal access, equal opportunity for development; independent living and participation in an inclusive society in all aspects of life. This includes creation of elder friendly barrier free environment in buildings, toilets, buses, bus-stands, airports and other public places to create age-friendly cities gain public

## Ministry of Railways:

21. Indian Railways have taken various measures for Welfare of senior citizens, some of which are under:
2. As per rules, male Senior Citizens of minimum 60 years and lady Senior Citizens of minimum 58   years are granted concession in the fares of all classes"  of Mail/Express/Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan Shatbdi/Duronto group of trains The element of concession is 40% for men and 50% for women:

No proof of age is required at the time of purchasing tickets  However; are required to carry some documentary proof as prescribed showing their age Or date of birth and have to produce it if demanded by on-board ticket checking staff.  Senior Citizens can book reserve tickets across the reservation counters as-well as through internet: they

- (ii) In.the computerised Passenger Reservation System. (PRS}; there is a provision to allot lower berths to Senior Citizens, Female passengers of 45 years and above automatically, even ifno choice is given, subject to availability of accommodation at the time of booking:
- (iii) In all trains having reserved-sleeping accommodation, a combined quota of six (6) lower berths per coach in Sleeper class and three (3) lower berths per coach each in AC; 3 tier and AC 2 tier classes has been earmarked' for: Senior Citizens, Female: passengers 0f-45 years of age above and pregnant women. In case of Rajdhani, Duronto and fully Air Conditioned /Express trains, the number of" berths-to be earmarked under this quota in 3 AC is 4 (four) lower berths per coach as against 3 (three) lower berths per coach in normal Mail/Express trains
- (iv) Accommodation is also earmarked for Senior Citizens during specified hours on suburban sections by Central and Western Railways:
- Instructions exist   for  provision  of wheel chairs at stations: This facility is provided, duly escorted by coolies (on payment) as per present practice Moreover; Zonal Railways have also been advised to provide free of cost 'Battery Operated Vehicles for Disabled and Old Aged passengers' at Railway Stations In addition, passenger can book e-wheel chairs online through IRCTC portal wwwirctccoin:
- (vi) To help old and disabled passengers requiring assistance at the stations and to Sewa' is,being provided through IRCTC at major stations for enabling passengers to book wheelchair services cum porter services etc
- (vii) After departure of the train, if there are vacant lower berths available in the train and if any physically person with disability booked on the authority of handicapped concession or a senior citizen or a pregnant woman; who has, been allotted upper /middle berth, approaches for allotment of vacant lower-berths, the on-board Ticket Checking Staff has been authorised to allot 'the vacant lower berth to them making necessary entries in the chart
- (viii) Separate counters are earmarked at various Passengers Reservation System (PRS) centres for dealing with the reservation   requisitions persons with disability, Senior Citizens, ex-MPS, MLAs accredited journalists and freedom fighters, if the average demand per shift not less than 120 tickets. In case there is no justification for earmarking of an exclusive counter for any of these categories of persons including persons with disability or senior citizens, one 0r two counters depending upon the total: demand are earmarked: for dealing with the reservation requests for all these categories ofpersons

## Ministry of Health and Family Welfare:

22. Government of India has been implementing National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE) from the F.Y:2010-11 to provide dedicated-healthcare services to the   elderly people at various  level of state: health: care delivery   system at primary; secondary and tertiary health care including outreach services
23. National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE) has two components with the following provisions to provide health care facilities to the elderly peoplein the country:-
- (1) National Health' Mission (NHM) component: The district and below activities of the programme is being covered under Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) flexible of NHM which are as follows: pool
4. Geriatric OPD and 10 bedded Geriatric Ward at District Hospitals
5. Weekly Geriatric Clinic at Primary Health Centre (PHCs):
6. Bi-weekly Geriatric Clinic at Community Health Centres (CHCs)
7. Provision of Aids and Appliances at Sub-centres

The programme is being implemented on the basis of Programme Implementation Plan (PIP) submitted by the States/UTs and viability under.the provisions of NPHCE As on date, 599 districts of 35 States/UTs have been approved to implement the District and below activities ofthe Programme:

- (2) Tertiary Component: In addition to NHM component of the programme, to ersure appropriate referral for conditions not amenable to" be treated at primary' and secondary levelto create human resource orientated towards geriatric care, this Ministry is

supporting development of 19 Regional Geriatric Centres (RGCs) with and establishment of 02 National Centres of Ageing each at AIIMS, New Delhi and MMC, Chennai with the following geriatric health care facilities:-

- 02 PG seats per RGCand 15 PG seats per NCA in Geriatric Medicine.
- Geriatric OPD, 30 bedded Geriatric ward for in-patient care RGCs and 200 bedded Geriatric ward @ NCAs:
- Research activities, Imparting Training and Development of training material'
24. Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) Project: The project was launched in 2016 to assess the health, economic and social status of the elderly (age 45-60). This project is going to be one of the largest comprehensive ageing surveys in the world with a sample size of 61,000. LASI project is being conducted by International Institute for Population Sciences, IIPS, (Deemed University), Mumbai which is an autonomous organization under  Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: In India, LASI is to be undertaken by IIPS in collaboration with Harvard School of Public Health and Rand Corporation with the financial sponsorship from Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, UNFPA India and National Institute of Health (NIH)/National Institute of Ageing (NIA) USA: So far an amount of Rs. 29.20 crore has been released under the programme:
25. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY): The RSBY is a centrally sponsored scheme that was implemented by Ministry of Labour & Employment since 2008, under the Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, 2008, to provide health insurance coverage to BPL families and 11 other categories of unorganized workers: The Scheme has been transferred to Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in 2015. Each.family enrolled in the Scheme' is entitled to hospitalization benefits of upto Rs 30,000/- pa. in Government as well as empanelled private hospitals. Transportation cost of Rs. 100/- per visit is also apsid to the beneficiary family, subject to maximum ceiling of Rs. 1000 /- per Currently (2018-19), 12 States are implementing RSBY. year:
26. Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme (SCHIS): This Scheme, being implemented since 2016, provides insurance cover to senior citizens as a top-up over the existing RSBY Scheme This Scheme provides an additional annual coverage of Rs. 30,000 /per senior citizen in the eligible RSBY beneficiary family. SCHIS provides a health insurance cover of Rs. 30,000/- which is available to senior citizens; in additional to the coverage of Rs. 30,000/- under RSBY. If in any RSBY enrolled family, there are more than one senior citizen, then the additional cover will be in multiple of Rs 30,000 /- per-senior citizen: 211 Treatment packages are covered under SCHIS, in addition to 1516 packages under RSBY. Currently, 08 States, namely Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat; Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya Nagaland, Tripura and West Bengal are implementing SCHIS Around 18 lakh families having senior citizen (s) are covered under SCHIS as per available records

27. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY): In March 2018, Government has approved the launch of Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY during 2018-19 to cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families (approx 50 crore beneficiaries) providing coverage upto Rs. 5 and tertiary hospitalization: PMJAY has been launched on 23rd September 2018. With the-launch of the PMJAY, RSBY and SCHIS will be subsumed in it. All enrolled beneficiary families of RSBY and SCHIS are entitled for benefits under PMJAY:

## Ministry of Communications:

28. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), under Ministry of Communications, has reported that Senior Citizens of the age of 65 years and above are exempted from Payment of registration charges for Landline Telephone Connection.
29. Further; Mahanagar Telephone   Nigam Ltd: (MTNL); under Ministry of Communications, provides   concession in installation/activation  charges and monthly services/rental charges for Landline connections under Plan-250 in Senior Citizens Category, to Senior Citizens who are more than 65 years of age.

## Ministry of Civil Aviation:

30. In order to facilitate the passengers, particularly senior citizens, expectant mothers, passengers with disability, first time travellers etc, Ministry of Civil Aviation has instructed all the stakeholders to ensure that the following requirements are complied:
2. ensure provision of automated buggies free of charge for all senior citizens, in the terminal building to facilitate their access to boarding: located beyond reasonable walking distance at all airports having annual aircraft movements of 50,000 or more: This facility may be extended to other needy passengers on demand basis free of charge gates
3. Airport   operator shall  adequately   display information regarding   availability of automated buggies and small trolleys in the terminal building at prominent locations including dos and don'ts regarding the same: This shall also be published on the website of the airport operator:
4. Airport operators shall provide small trolleys after security check for carriage of hand baggage (permitted as per regulation) up to the boarding gate.
5. Further, Air India offers 50 discount to senior citizens on the highest economy class Basic Fare. The discount is,offered to those who have completed 60 years of age on the date of commencement of journey.
6. Senior citizens can also avail multi-level fares offered by Air India on each sector for travel on domestic sectors, starting from a low level advance purchase fares which facilitate early selling to the highest one

## Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs:

31. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Department of Urban Development has issued the Model Building Bye Laws, 2016 (MBBL) which under chapter 8 prescribes standards-for creation of elder friendly barrierfree environment with reference to buildings, toilets etc: Urban Local Bodies shall implement the Policy by adopting the Model Building Bye Laws, 2016. The Department has issued 'Harmonised Guidelines and Space Standards for Barrier-Free Built Environment for persons with Disability and Elderly Persons' in 2016. These Guidelines intend to address the needs ofpersons with disabilities and elderly persons with a wide range of accessibility" elements and standards and not limited to disabilities only, thus paving the way for universally accessible and inclusive India:
32. Under Urban Bus Specification-II issued in 2013,the emphasis on buses financed by the Department of Urban Development is on procurement of low floor buses with proper ramps for easy access of the passengers and proper space for wheel chair to be placed in the bus for the benefit of disabled persons and senior citizens
33. metro rail  projects implemented/under  implementation in the  country are having  disabled and elder friendly infrastructure such as proper  ramps/lifts to the stations, level boarding the alighting of passengers etc: There is a provision Of reservation of seats in metro rail coaches for the differently-abled persons and senior citizens:
34. Housing for All (Urban) Mission /Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana was approved by the Government of India on 17th June 2015 and launched on 25th June, 2015. The Mission Guidelines have been circulated to State/UTs to meet the demand of housing-in their States/UTs In Para 4.8.10 in PMAY-HFA (U) Guidelines;it has, inter alia, been incorporated that-'while making the allotment; families with senior citizens should be given priority for allotment on ground floor or lower floors' .

## Ministry of Women and Child Development:

35. and Child Development has constructed a Home for Widows at Sunrakh Bangar, Vrindavan, Distt: Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, with a capacity of 1000 widows to provide them safe and secure place to stay, health services, nutritious food, legal and counseling services The new home for widows named as Krishna Kutir is constructed on 1.424 hectare of land, The design of the Home is old age friendly which consists of ground plus three floors with the facilities of ramps, lifts, supply of adequate electricity, water and other amenities for meeting the requirement of senior citizens and Home was inaugurated on 31.8.2018. The Home is operational 01.09.2018 and managed by Govt of Uttar Pradesh

## Ministry of AYUSH:

36. Ministry of AYUSH has been providing the following facilities to senior citizens:
2. (i) Free consultation and yoga therapy under and Naturopathy: Yoga
3. (iii) Free Yoga training at 50 Yoga Parks are being run through NGOs in various states of the country.
4. (ii) OPDs are being provided in various Government Hospital at Delhi, Haryana, Tripura, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand.
5. (iv) In addition, other programmes such as-Health Promotion Programme, Therapy Programmes, Individual Therapy Sessions, Weekend Yoga Training Programmes, Monthly Clinical Yoga Therapy Workshop are also being imparted Yoga Yoga