The National Policy for Older Persons: Critical Issues in Implementation

Abstract

The National Policy for Older Persons (NPOP) was formulated in 1999 in response to the increasing number of persons 60 years and above and their vulnerabilities arising out of income insecurity and concerns about health and other socio-economic and physical well being. It was also in keeping with the national constitutional provisions as well as the UN resolution to observe 1999 as International Year of Older Persons. Following 10 years of implementation, the NPOP has been reviewed and revised recently and the new National Policy for Senior Citizens is currently awaiting Cabinet approval. While the 1999 Policy (as also the revised draft) is comprehensive in many respects, there were some key constraints in the implementation process that are addressed in this paper. A careful review and resolution of these constraints will help in effective implementation of NPSC. Specifically, the paper raises six key issues in implementation as experienced during the last 10 years of the NPOP. These are the need for: (1) coordination among multi-sectoral partners with clearer accountability and measurable and time bound results; (2) financial outlays by different stakeholders within their respective mandates, but harmonised to produce policy outcomes; (3) a stronger role for the National Council for Older Persons with greater political and administrative power necessary to bring multiple stakeholders contribute to a common cause; (4) enhanced income security, including social pensions for the poor vulnerable senior citizens; (5) increased protection for older women who face socio-economic, cultural and legal barriers; and finally (6) the need for sharpening the policy focus as it addresses multiple issues with limited resources. The paper also makes suggestions for mainstreaming ageing as a strategy for integrating ageing issues into al l sectoral pol icies and at al l levels. The need for improving the overal l awareness and empathy for older persons and strengthening resources and national capacity for integration have been underlined in the paper. The National Policy for Older Persons: Critical Issues in Implementation