Ageing Policies and Programmes in India

Abstract

The first ever document to be announced by the Government of India on ageing was the National Policy on Older Persons in 1999 to commemorate the international year of older persons declared by the United Nations which articulates what the government in India would be doing to ensure that the senior citizens remain a national asset and the welfare measures needed to ensure their income and safety are protected by the governments. Few states have their own policies. The Government of India announced Vayoshreshtha awards to eminent senior citizens and institutions in recognition of their service to elderly persons. In 2007, a landmark legislation, the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007 was enacted by the Indian Parliament and over the past decades many crucial judgements were awarded in favour of senior citizens, thereby cautioning the children that neglecting their parents would attract penal actions for neglect and abuse. Old age pension of Rs. 200/- for those over 60 years and Rs. 500/- for those over 80 years is given by the central government expecting the states to offer an equal amount. The coverage needs to be increased as it is targeted towards those living below poverty line. There are schemes such as Annapurna, widow pension, distribution of assistive devices and so on. Training of manpower in old age homes, particularly those funded by the Government of India, is being carried out by the Regional Resource and Training Centres and other collaborating agencies. The National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly since 2013 is making a steady progress; the regional centres have been established; during the next few years, these institutes would be making available postgraduate geriatric medical professionals. The National Institute of Social Justice is a central agency involved in coordinating the education, research and training that benefits the Indian senior citizen community. The Government of India is involved in the Human Rights of Older Persons, and they present the India government’s stand on the rights of senior citizens in the Open-Ended Working Group meetings convened by the United Nations at New York. The senior citizens are getting empowered by several efforts of the NGOs and state- and district-level programmes, especially on 1 October commemorating the International Day of Senior Citizens, and several people receive awards and are honoured by the governments.