Lok Sabha Question No. 2740 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-15
Subject: Facilitating Elderly People
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: PANKAJ CHOWDHARY, SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †2740 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2015

## †2740. FACILITATING ELDERLY PEOPLE

## SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY: SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI:

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

- (a) the total population of senior citizens/elderly people in the country, gender and State-wise;
- (b) the number of such persons getting old age pension;
- (c) whether the population of elderly is expected to double by 2045 and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether India ranks very low in the global ranking due to pathetic condition of the elderly and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government for care of elderly regarding health services and developing age friendly environment and new innovative methods to address age related issues therein?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

## (SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)

- (a) As per Census 2011, the total population of senior citizens/elderly people in the country is 10.38 crore. Gender and State-wise data is placed at Annexure.
- (b) Ministry of Rural Development has informed that the financial assistance under schemes of National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) are provided only to the persons belonging to below  poverty  line  (BPL)  household.  Old  age  pension  is  provided  under  Indira  Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) to persons of the age of 60 years or more and belonging  to  below  poverty  line  (BPL)  household.  Under  IGNOAPS,  central  assistance  of Rs.200/- p.m. is provided in the age group of 60-79 years and Rs.500/- p.m. is provided to the persons of 80 years or more. Rate of assistance under IGNOAPS is restricted only to the BPL households  and  not  to  all  senior  citizens/elderly  persons.  At  present,  the  total  no.  of beneficiaries under IGNOAPS is 230 lakh.
- (c) As per the Population Projections, prepared by the United Nations (the 2015 revision), there will be 290 million population aged 60 years and above by 2045 in India. This will account for 17.4% of the total population of the country in that year. In terms of percentage change over  the  period  2015-2045,  the  increase  in  population  aged  60+  years,  is  expected  to  be around 149.3%.
- (d) No such study has yet been conducted by Government of India.
- (e) So far as Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is concerned, this Ministry had launched the 'National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly' (NPHCE) during the year 2010-11 for providing dedicated health care facilities to senior citizens (above 60 years of age) at primary, secondary and tertiary health care delivery system.

The basic  aim  of  the  NPHCE  is  to  provide  separate  and  specialised  comprehensive  health care  to  the  senior  citizens  at  various  levels  of  state  health  care  delivery  system  including outreach services.

The major activities of the NPHCE are:

- i) Setting up of Geriatric department in identified Regional Geriatric Centres (RGC) with OPD care services and 30 bedded Geriatric ward for providing indoor services. RGCs will also undertake PG Courses in Geriatric for developing Human Resource.
2. ii) Setting up of Geriatric units at all District Hospitals that will provide specialist services. A 10 bedded Geriatric Ward will also be set up for providing indoor services.
3. iii) Establishment  of  Rehabilitation  unit  at  all  Community  Health  Centres  (CHCs)  and Geriatric clinic twice/week.
4. iv) Setting up weekly Geriatric clinic by trained medical officer at Primary Health Centres (PHCs).
- v) Information, Education and Communication (IEC) on healthy life style, home care to the bed ridden and supportive devices for the needy elderly persons at sub-centre level.

As on date, a total of 104 districts of 24 States/UTs and 08 regional Geriatric Centres have been covered under NPHCE.

As far as Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is concerned, there is already a National Policy for Older Persons (NPOP), 1999 in place. Besides, a Central Sector Scheme of Integrated Programme of Older Persons (IPOP) is being implemented since 1992 and revised wef 01-042015. Financial assistance is provided under it to State Governments/Panchayati Raj Institutions/Urban  Local  Bodies  and  Non-Government  al  Organisations  for  running  and maintenance of projects like:

-  Old Age Home;
-  Respite Care Centre;
-  Mobile Medicare Unit;
-  Day Care Centre for Alzheimer's Disease/Dementia Patients;
-  Physiotherapy Clinic for Older Persons;
-  Helplines and Counseling Centres for Older Persons;
-  Sensitizing Programmes for Children particularly in schools and colleges;
-  Regional Resource and Training Centres etc.

The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 was enacted to ensure need based maintenance for parents and senior citizens and their welfare. So far, the Act has been notified by all States and UTs. However, the Act does not apply in the State of Jammu & Kashmir. Himachal Pradesh has its own Act for Senior Citizens. The Act provides for:

-  Maintenance of Parents/ senior citizens by children/ relatives made obligatory and justiciable through Tribunals;
-  Revocation of transfer of property by senior citizens in case of negligence by relatives;
-  Penal provision for abandonment of senior citizens;
-  Establishment of Old Age Homes for Indigent Senior Citizens;
-  Adequate medical facilities and
-  Security for Senior Citizens and Protection of life and property.
- (f) In  addition,  several  other  benefits  and  concessions  are  available  to  the  senior  citizens  as extended  by  various  Ministries  and  subordinate  organizations  like  Rural  Development, Railways, Civil Aviation and Finance.

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## Annexure referred to Reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2740 for 15.12.2015 regarding 'Facilitating Elderly People'.

State-wise Aged population (60+) by sex as per Census 2011

| ST Code   | State/UTs                | Population   | Population   | Population   |
|-----------|--------------------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
|           |                          | Persons      | Males        | Females      |
| 00        | India                    | 103849040    | 51071872     | 52777168     |
| 01        | JAMMU &KASHMIR           | 922656       | 482580       | 440076       |
| 02        | HIMACHAL PRADESH         | 703009       | 340875       | 362134       |
| 03        | PUNJAB                   | 2865817      | 1443662      | 1422155      |
| 04        | CHANDIGARH               | 67078        | 34833        | 32245        |
| 05        | UTTARANCHAL              | 900809       | 441897       | 458912       |
| 06        | HARYANA                  | 2193755      | 1088621      | 1105134      |
| 07        | DELHI                    | 1147445      | 576755       | 570690       |
| 08        | RAJASTHAN                | 5112138      | 2432263      | 2679875      |
| 09        | UTTAR PRADESH            | 15439904     | 8037133      | 7402771      |
| 10        | BIHAR                    | 7707145      | 4106593      | 3600552      |
| 11        | SIKKIM                   | 40752        | 22472        | 18280        |
| 12        | ARUNACHAL PRADESH        | 63639        | 33189        | 30450        |
| 13        | NAGALAND                 | 102726       | 54779        | 47947        |
| 14        | MANIPUR                  | 200020       | 99795        | 100225       |
| 15        | MIZORAM                  | 68628        | 34345        | 34283        |
| 16        | TRIPURA                  | 289544       | 141920       | 147624       |
| 17        | MEGHALAYA                | 138902       | 66939        | 71963        |
| 18        | ASSAM                    | 2078544      | 1054817      | 1023727      |
| 19        | WEST BENGAL              | 7742382      | 3851314      | 3891068      |
| 20        | JHARKHAND                | 2356678      | 1181745      | 1174933      |
| 21        | ORISSA                   | 3984448      | 1994270      | 1990178      |
| 22        | CHHATTISGARH             | 2003909      | 928159       | 1075750      |
| 23        | MADHYA PRADESH           | 5713316      | 2769556      | 2943760      |
| 24        | GUJARAT                  | 4786559      | 2245601      | 2540958      |
| 25        | DAMAN &DIU               | 11361        | 4873         | 6488         |
| 26        | DADRA &NAGARHAVELI       | 13892        | 6359         | 7533         |
| 27        | MAHARASHTRA              | 11106935     | 5253709      | 5853226      |
| 28        | ANDHRA PRADESH           | 8278241      | 3906328      | 4371913      |
| 29        | KARNATAKA                | 5791032      | 2747072      | 3043960      |
| 30        | GOA                      | 163495       | 74315        | 89180        |
| 31        | LAKSHADWEEP              | 5270         | 2674         | 2596         |
| 32        | KERALA                   | 4193393      | 1883595      | 2309798      |
| 33        | TAMIL NADU               | 7509758      | 3661226      | 3848532      |
| 34        | PONDICHERRY              | 120436       | 53419        | 67017        |
| 35        | ANDAMAN &NICOBAR ISLANDS | 25424        | 14189        | 11235        |