National Policy for Older Persons
The National Policy on Older Persons (NPOP), 1999 envisages State support to ensure financial and food security, health care, shelter and other needs of older persons, equitable share in development, protection against abuse and exploitation, and availability of services to improve the quality of their lives. The policy also covers issues like social security, intergenerational bonding, family as the primary caretaker, role of Non-Governmental Organizations, training of manpower, research and training.
The Ministry of Rural Development has been implementing Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) since 1995 with the aim to provide financial security to senior citizens living below the poverty line. Under the Scheme Central assistance is given towards pension @ Rs. 200/- per month to persons above 60 years and @ Rs. 500/- per month to persons above 80 years of age.
The National Council of Older Persons was constituted in 1999 to monitor the implementation of the Policy and advise the Government on issues related to the welfare of senior citizens. The Council has been reconstituted in 2012 as National Council of Senior Citizens with wider national impact. Similar Councils have been constituted at the State level also. Further, the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act has been enacted in 2007 for providing more effective provisions for maintenance and welfare of senior citizens.
Due to continuous increase in the life expectancy, there is an increase in the population of senior citizens. Ensuring that the senior citizens lead a secured, dignified and productive life, the allocation of funds under Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP) for the current financial year (2014-15) has been increased from 45 crores (2013-14) to Rs. 51 crores.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Sudarshan Bhagat in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha here today.
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RTS/ASB