Government to Bring New National Policy on Senior Citizens

General Studies Paper -2

Context: The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is drafting a new national policy for senior citizens, considering India’s changing demographics.

More about the News

• The policy was discussed at the fourth meeting of the National Council for Senior Citizens.
• Other key topics included are digital inclusion, involving NGOs in policymaking, elder abuse grievance mechanisms, and setting standards for old age homes.

Senior citizens in India

• According to Census 2011, India has approximately 103 million elderly citizens, accounting for 8.6 per cent of the population.
  • The government defines people aged 60 and above as “elderly”.
• According to the government’s projections, they will account for about 12.16% of the country’s population in 2026.
  • Population projections estimate 20% of the country will be senior citizens by 2047.
• This increased longevity is due to the availability of good healthcare services and accessibility to lifesaving drugs.

Various Schemes

• The Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC) provides grant-in-aid to NGOs for running senior citizen homes offering free shelter, food, healthcare, and entertainment.
• Elderline: The National Helpline on Toll free number 14567 namely ‘Elderline’ was launched in 2021 for grievance redressal of Senior Citizens and to generate awareness .
• Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY): It is implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, aims to support economically weaker senior citizens (with a monthly income of ₹15,000 or less) who suffer from age-related disabilities or infirmities and  provides free assistive devices.
• Seniorcare Ageing Growth Engine(SAGE): It supports innovative startups to develop products and services for the elderly, while the Geriatric Caregiver Training Scheme aims to create a professional caregiving workforce.
• Legal support is provided under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, which mandates maintenance by children/relatives and penalizes abandonment or harassment.
• Health needs are addressed through Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY, which offers free health coverage to all citizens aged 70+, and the National Programme for Healthcare of the Elderly (NPHCE), which ensures geriatric services from the primary to tertiary levels.

Conclusion and Way Forward

• India’s aging population is growing rapidly, government initiatives play a crucial role in ensuring the welfare and dignity of senior citizens.
• As the nation moves forward, it is imperative to continue strengthening initiatives to provide a secure and respectful life for the elderly.
• India must adopt sensitive policies to address the economic, health, and social needs of the elderly.