The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is continuously  taking measures to strengthen welfare, protection, healthcare support and dignified living for senior citizens. These efforts focus on expanding institutional care, providing essential services and improving access to assistive living devices for elderly persons.

Giving details, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice And Empowerment, Shri Sudhansh Pant said that more than 2.88 lakh senior citizens have benefited from the provision of shelter, nutritious food, healthcare services, physiotherapy, recreation and other essential support facilities. These services support their daily needs and promote their physical well-being and quality of life.

He said that 142 new Senior Citizen Homes have been sanctioned across different parts of the country, to expand institutional care and support infrastructure adding the additional homes will strengthen access to care and essential support for elderly persons.

The Secretary added that to enhance accessibility and independent living, 228 camps were organised covering more than 4.91 lakh beneficiaries whileas around 23.93 lakh free assistive living devices were distributed. These included wheelchairs, hearing aids, walking sticks and spectacles for eligible senior citizens belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) categories and low-income groups supporting mobility, communication and participation in everyday activities, he added.

Shri Pant added that to further strengthen access to information, a Senior Citizen’s Welfare Portal was launched by the Hon’ble President of India as a one-stop solution for information dissemination that provides a common platform for accessing information related to senior citizens’ welfare.

The Secretary said that these measures reinforce the Ministry’s commitment to supporting senior citizens through accessible care, improved welfare infrastructure and assistance that enables them to lead dignified and independent lives.

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PR-113- TAR/KV/GA/RK

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