Centre committed for welfare of elderly people: Minister at two day’s National Conference on Elderly: Dignity, Health and Security, in New Delhi on December 04, 2014.
New Delhi, Dec 4 (IANS): In
a bid to make life easy and secured for elderly people across India, the
central government Thursday said it would sustain 500 programmes that were
being implemented in the country for them.
Social Justice and
Empowerment Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot said the central government is
"committed to doing everything we can to address the issue of the
elderly".
"The ministry
will not only sustain the 500 programmes that are being implemented across the
country for the elderly, but will ensure pension for the elderly," the
union minister said.
Addressing a
conference here on "Ageing India's elderly: Dignity, Health and
Security," organised by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), he said
the central government was committed to overall welfare of the elderly in the
country.
He appreciated the
efforts of various organisations involved in uplifting and helping the elderly
in the country.
"We will also
strengthen convergence with all key social sector ministries - health and
family welfare, rural development and panchayati raj, and the Census Commission
to name a few - to ensure a coordinated response on multiple challenges we are
facing," he said.
Gehlot assured people
that the social justice and empowerment ministry will take on board all the
recommendations and suggestions made at the conference.
The key areas
identified at the conference for more focused deliberation were social security,
health and special initiatives mounted by state governments to reduce the
vulnerability of the elderly.
The UNFPA along with
Population Research Centre, Institute for Social and Economic Change,
Bengaluru, the Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi and Tata Institute of Social
Sciences - Mumbai did a study on the issue in seven states.
Frederika Meijer,
UNFPA India representative, said what the Building a Knowledge Base on
Population Ageing in India (BKPAI) initiative has done is to develop the much
needed data base at the macro level focusing on the elderly in India.
"UNFPA research
finds that India is witnessing a rapid rise in the proportion of elderly in the
population, especially of older women. The feminisation of ageing requires
critical attention as many elderly women face greater vulnerabilities and
isolation at older ages," she said.
"Efforts to
ensure that the elderly can exercise their rights to health, to security and to
dignity must especially factor in measures to improve the lives of elderly women,"
she added.
Speakers at the
conference underlined that a significant proportion of the elderly was aware of
social security schemes such as the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension
Scheme (IGNOAPS), the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) and
the Annapurna Scheme but utilisation of the schemes was low among the target
group.
They said because of
this only 18 percent of the elderly belonging to poor households were
beneficiaries of IGNOAPS, while only 3.5 percent utilise the Annapurna Scheme
and a quarter of elderly widowed women utilise the IGNWPS.
Govt to sustain all programmes for elderly, ensure pension | Business Standard News
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| The Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot addressing at the two day’s National Conference on Elderly: Dignity, Health and Security, in New Delhi on December 04, 2014. |
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| DR K.R. Gangadharan Summing up the outcome of the two day’s National Conference on Elderly: Dignity, Health and Security, in New Delhi on December 04, 2014. |
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S.C.Maheshwari Genl. Secy; Sr Vice president & Editor Bharat pensioners Samaj with J.R.Gupta Chairman Sr Citizens Council Delhi at the two day’s National Conference on Elderly: Dignity, Health and Security, in New Delhi on December 04, 2014. |
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