Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
15-December-2015 17:12 IST
Welfare of Senior Citizens
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.
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;
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 11th 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.
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.
iii) Establishment of Rehabilitation unit at all Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Geriatric clinic twice/week.
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 per Census 2011, the total population of senior citizens/elderly people in the country is 10.38 crore.
This information was given by the Minister of State, Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Vijay Sampla in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha here today.
