Lok Sabha Question No. 345 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-19
Subject: Senior Citizens Welfare Fund
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: ADVOCATE NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR

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

## 345. Senior Citizens Welfare Fund

## ADV. NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR:

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

- (a) whether a Senior Citizen Welfare Fund has been established under the Ministry and if so, the details thereof along with the budgetary allocation for the purpose;
- (b) whether action plan has been finalised by the Government in this regards and if $0, the details thereof; and
- the manner in which the Government would identify the needy senior citizens and utilise the allocation in rural and urban areas of the country?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (c) Yes Madam, Section 122 of the Finance Act; 2015, had mandated that the Government shall establish a fund to be called <The Senior Citizens Welfare Fund" which shall be utilized for promoting welfare of senior citizens and for Such other purposes as may prescribed.  Accordingly, the Government has established The Senior Citizens" Welfare Fund vide Rule 3 of Senior Citizens Welfare Fund Rules, 2016 notified by the Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs vide GSR 322(E) dated 18.3.2016 for promoting welfare of Senior citizens and for such other purposes a8 specified in Chapter VII of the Act:

The schemes shall include:

- schemes for promoting financial security of senior citizens, including but not limited old age pensions, term saving instruments employment in income generating activities; and long to,
- (ii) schemes for promoting healthcare and nutrition of senior citizens, including but not limited affordable health care programs, mental health services, health insurance schemes, nutrition education programs and training and orientation in health care of senior citizens; tO,
- (iii) schemes for promoting welfare of elderly widows;
- (iv) schemnes related to old age homes, short stay homes and care of senior citizens; day
- schemes related to education training and information needs of senior citizens;
- (vi) schemes related to research activity on ageing and information systems on senior citizens;

any other scheme, with the approval of the Committee constituted for administration of fund

Sub-Rule (3) of Rule 3 of the Senior Citizens Welfare Fund Rules inter-alia provides that every institution shall  transfer the unclaimed amounts lying with small saving schemes,

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.345 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2016

Public Provident fund schemes and in other schemes (such as Employees Provident Fund etc.)

As per Rule 4 of the Senior Citizens Welfare Fund Rules, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has been declared as the Nodal Ministry for administration of the Fund. The Fund will be  administered by an Inter-Ministerial   Committee   consisting of Secretary, Ministry of Social  Justice and  Empowerment as Chairperson Ex-Officio  and officials representing the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,   Ministry of Rural Development,   Ministry of   Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Ministry and Employment and   representatives of the Ministry sponsoring the proposal and other Ministries concerned with the proposal, Financial Advisor in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowermerit will be the Member Secretary.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment a8 the Nodal Ministry has written to the relevant Ministries   /Departments for nomination of Members and for   furnishing information on the existing   schemes/ programmes implemented for the welfare of Senior Citizens,, along with detailed proposal and budgetary requirement for new projectsy schemes promotion of the welfare of Senior Citizens, ifany. being