Lok Sabha Question No. 2640 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-15
Subject: Welfare of Senior Citizens
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: AJAY (TENI) MISRA

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †2640.

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2015

## †2640. WELFARE OF SENIOR CITIZENS

## SHRI AJAY MISRA TENI:

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

- (a)  the  extent  to  which  the  objectives  of  the  Maintenance  and  Welfare  of  Parents  and  Senior Citizens Act, 2007 has been achieved in the country;
- (b)  the  definition  of  senior  citizens  stipulated  under  the  said  Act  along  with  the  persons  held responsible for maintenance of these citizens;
- (c) whether health standard and efficiency of senior citizens have increased since the year, 2005;
- (d) if so, the number of senior citizens in the country at present; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to fix the age of senior citizens at 70 years in place of 60 years if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

## (SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)

- (a) 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.

This Ministry has not conducted any study in this regard.

- (b) Under the Act, Senior Citizen is  defined  as  'any  person  being  a  citizen  of  India,  who  has attained the age of sixty years or above'.

Persons responsible for maintenance of senior citizens are defined as:

-  'children'  includes  son,  daughter,  grandson  and  grand-daughter  but  does  not  include  a minor;
-  'relative' means any legal heir of the childless senior citizen who is not a minor and is in possession of or would inherit his property after his death;
- (c) Keeping in view the recommendation made in the 'National Policy on Older Persons' as well as  the  State's  obligation  under  the  'Maintenance&  Welfare  of  Parents  and  Senior  Citizens Act,  2007',  the  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  had  launched  the  'National Programme for the Health Care of Elderly' (NPHCE) during the 11 th  Plan period to address various health related problems of elderly people.

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.

- (d)  As  per  Census  2011,  the  total  population  of  senior  citizens/elderly  people  in  the  country  is 10.38 crore.
- (e) No such proposal is under consideration in this Ministry.

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