Reply received from Ministry of Social Justice, Delhi.
To
President Of India. Prime Minister Of India. Minister Of Social Justice. Minister of Finance. Minister of H R D. Minister of I & B. Minister of Rural Development. Minister of Urban Development. Minister for Panchayati Raj.
Sub: International Day of Older Persons, 2013.
The theme for International Day of Older
In India, Senior Citizens want the following during 2013 and request you to get us these:
1. Celebrate This International Day in a befitting way. Please, issue elaborate instructions to each Stake Holder to celebrate this day with sincerity, vigor and fun fare like Valentine’s Day. Let each Ministry, PSU, Corporate, State/UT at District and Municipal/Panchayat level and Media celebrate and involve all citizens including their serving employees, children etc. In some Countries, this is declared as holiday. All must be encouraged to visit Elders, take them for treat, picnic, film, give presents etc and make this day memorable for them. These Elders have achieved Independence and Present Economic Prosperity for the Nation. Today is an opportunity for us all to show our gratitude for the contributions of older people - by spending time with an elderly neighbor, volunteering at a retirement home etc.
2. Implement Important Provisions of Declared and Notified National Policy, 99: National Policy of Older Persons, 1999 was announced on 13-2-99 with the approval of Cabinet, covering all aspects required to be taken into account for real welfare of Older Persons. It is really a very comprehensive and extraordinary document leaving not a single aspect affecting the lives of Senior Citizens with clear directives for implementation. It is provided in its Mandate & Policy Statement (Paras 12 to 21) to take effective steps to improve the quality of life of all Elders, strengthen their legitimate place in society and help them to live their last spell of life with purpose, dignity and peace. Para 18 of the Policy provides that age 60+ is a phase, when individual should have chances and opportunities to lead an active, creative, productive and satisfying life. The Policy declares the Older Persons as respected Citizens requiring strengthening of their legitimate place in the Society. It recognizes the Older Persons as a Resource of the Country.Make each Ministry work towards this.
3. Provide Separate Ministry/Department/Commission for 12 crore Senior Citizens & Pensioners (10% of total population, 13% of electorate and 21% of effective voters).
4. Provide Avenues of Utilization of Elders: Even after 14 years of formation of the Policy for overall upliftment of Senior Citizens in paras 20, 21, 31, 55, 78, 79 etc, nothing is done for their proper utilization. Many pensioners and Senior Citizens feel lonely and require some avenues of passing their time usefully.
10. Get Integrated Programmes for Older Persons (IPOP) Implemented fully for improving the quality of life of the Older Persons by enforcing Municipalities/Panchayats to provide 16 Schemes in each ward by time bound targets.
--
On Tuesday, 8 October 2013 11:35
AM, surendra rawat wrote:
Dear Shri
Ruperalia,
Reference is invited to your
e-mail dated 22.8.2013 on various issues related to senior citizens. The
points raised therein have been examined and replies thereon duly approved by
Hon'ble Minister, SJ&E is attached herewith for kind perusal.
With regards
Surendra Rawat
Dear Shri Ruparelia,
Subject:- With reference to your E. Mail dated
22.8.2013 to Hon'ble Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment
1.
It is informed that instructions have already been
issued vide D.O. No.15-39(57)/12-13/AG-II dated 20.08.2013 from Addl.
Secretary, SJ&E to all Principal Secretary/Secretary of the concerned
states for celebration of International Day of Older Persons on 1st
October,2013 in a befitting manner. (copyplaced at Annexure – 'A'). Besides the Hon'ble Minister of Social
Justice & Empowerment has also requested to all the Chief Minister of the
respective states vide D.O. No. 15-39(57)/2012-13/AG-II (Pt.I) dated 26.08.2013
(copy placed at Annexure-B) to commemorate International Day of Older Persons
on 1st October,2013 by organizing functions, workshops, seminars, awareness
camps etc. and to give suitable instructions in this regard, so that, this
year, the day is observed in befitting manner right up to the Block Level and
with full involvement of the concerned Department like Education (including
their NSS Units), Health Youth Welfare (including Nehru Yuvakendras) etc. Besides the State Govts. have also been
requested to organize these programmes with active involvement of
Panchayats/Panchayati Raj Institutions and Municipal Bodies. Besides draft
letters have been prepared and submitted for approval which will be issued to
the States/UT from Minister, SJ&E, MOS (MG), Secy, SJ&E with request to
celebrate the Day for one week.
2. Implement
Important Provisions of Declared and Notified National Policy, 99:
It
is informed that the draft National New Policy for Senior Citizens, 2011 is under
preparation, which will be placed before the Cabinet for approval shortly.
3. It is informed that separate Bureau
has already been established in the Ministry for looking after/dealing with the
Welfare of Senior Citizens on various issues. At present there is no proposal
to set up a separate Ministry/Department for Senior Citizens.
4. The Govt. has taken the
following action in pursuance to provisions contained in the NPOP, 1999:
(i)
National Council of Older Persons under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble Minister, SJ&E
was constituted in 1999. Which has again
been reconstituted in 2012 with a more definite structure.
(ii) The
Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 has been enacted by the Parliament of
India and has been brought into force by all States & UTs except J&K to
which the Act does not extend and Himachal Pradesh which has its own
maintenance Act.
(iii)
The Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare has launched the
National Programme for Health Care for the Elderly (NPHCE) in 2010.
(iv)
Central Sector
Scheme of International Programme for Older Persons (IPOP) has been revised
with effect from 1.4.2008 under which Voluntary Organizations, Panchayati Raj Institutes
etc.
5. As already stated that separate Bureau has
been established for dealing with and
looking after the Welfare of Senior Citizens and details of activities of the
Bureau are available in the Ministries Website separately.
6. Create in the Society & Govt. and
strengthen the legitimate place of elders in the society.
The Ministry every year on 1st October
organizes International Day of Older Persons.
As part of the celebration an Inter Generational Walkathon is organized
in the morning in the National Capital and Vayoshreshta Samman is given to
Institutions/Individuals in recognition of their outstanding contribution
towards in cause of Senior Citizens. The
Ministry also organizes similar Inter Generational Walkathon in to State
Capitals.
In this regards necessary instructions/ have
been issued to the Central Ministries/State Govts./U.Ts. from time to time.
7. Implement
Maintenance & Welfare of Parents & Senior Citizens Act, 2007 fully:-
In this regard, it is informed
that suitable instructions have already been issued to all Central
Ministries/State Govts./UTs from time to time to take necessary action in the
subject. So far, all States and UTs have
notified the Act. The Act does not
extend to the State of J&K and Himachal Pradesh as
they are having their own
Maintenance Act. A National Conference
on Ageing was held on 6-7 November, 2012 in New Delhi . A review of implementation of this
Act was taken up with the State Government representatives during the first
half of the day.
8. The Ministry on the occasion of IDOP give
wide publicity of the features of MWPSC Act and the benefits/concessions given
to Senior Citizens by various central Govt. Ministries/Departments through
advertisements in Print and Electronics Media.
9. The Hon'ble Minister of Social Justice &
Empowerment vide D.O. letter dated 9th Jaunary,2013 has requested the Hon'ble
Minister for Rural Development for enhancement of Pension Indira Gandhi
National Old Age Pension(IGNOAPS) to Rs. 500/- from Rs. 200/- (Years 60-79) and
to Rs. 1,000/- from Rs. 500/- ( 80 years and above).
10. The Ministry of Social
Justice and Empowerment is implementing the Central Sector Scheme of Integrated
Programme for Older Persons (IPOP) since 1992 with the objective of improving
the quality of life of Senior Citizens by providing basic amenities like
shelter, food, medical care and recreation opportunities etc. through providing
support for capacity building of Government/Non-Governmental
Organizations/Panchayati Raj Institutions/local bodies etc. The Scheme was last revised with effect from
01.04.2008. At present no Panchayat is
receiving grant under the scheme as State Govts. have not sent any
recommendation for grant to Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Yours faithfully,
(Surendra Rawat )
Deputy Secretary & CPIO
To
President Of India. Prime Minister Of India. Minister Of Social Justice. Minister of Finance. Minister of H R D. Minister of I & B. Minister of Rural Development. Minister of Urban Development. Minister for Panchayati Raj.
Sub: International Day of Older Persons, 2013.
The theme for International Day of Older
In India, Senior Citizens want the following during 2013 and request you to get us these:
1. Celebrate This International Day in a befitting way. Please, issue elaborate instructions to each Stake Holder to celebrate this day with sincerity, vigor and fun fare like Valentine’s Day. Let each Ministry, PSU, Corporate, State/UT at District and Municipal/Panchayat level and Media celebrate and involve all citizens including their serving employees, children etc. In some Countries, this is declared as holiday. All must be encouraged to visit Elders, take them for treat, picnic, film, give presents etc and make this day memorable for them. These Elders have achieved Independence and Present Economic Prosperity for the Nation. Today is an opportunity for us all to show our gratitude for the contributions of older people - by spending time with an elderly neighbor, volunteering at a retirement home etc.
2. Implement Important Provisions of Declared and Notified National Policy, 99: National Policy of Older Persons, 1999 was announced on 13-2-99 with the approval of Cabinet, covering all aspects required to be taken into account for real welfare of Older Persons. It is really a very comprehensive and extraordinary document leaving not a single aspect affecting the lives of Senior Citizens with clear directives for implementation. It is provided in its Mandate & Policy Statement (Paras 12 to 21) to take effective steps to improve the quality of life of all Elders, strengthen their legitimate place in society and help them to live their last spell of life with purpose, dignity and peace. Para 18 of the Policy provides that age 60+ is a phase, when individual should have chances and opportunities to lead an active, creative, productive and satisfying life. The Policy declares the Older Persons as respected Citizens requiring strengthening of their legitimate place in the Society. It recognizes the Older Persons as a Resource of the Country.Make each Ministry work towards this.
3. Provide Separate Ministry/Department/Commission for 12 crore Senior Citizens & Pensioners (10% of total population, 13% of electorate and 21% of effective voters).
4. Provide Avenues of Utilization of Elders: Even after 14 years of formation of the Policy for overall upliftment of Senior Citizens in paras 20, 21, 31, 55, 78, 79 etc, nothing is done for their proper utilization. Many pensioners and Senior Citizens feel lonely and require some avenues of passing their time usefully.
5. Provide Negotiating Machinery:
Negotiation & Dissemination of
Information to Elders is completely neglected by Nodal Ministry. Separate
Negotiating Machinery by recognizing existing registered Federations of Senior
Citizens and separate Web Site for Senior Citizens is what we need immediately.
6. Create
respect for Elders in the Society & Government and strengthen the legitimate place of Elders in
the Society.
7. Implement Maintenance & Welfare
of Parents & Senior Citizens Act, 2007 fully by providing Old Age Home in each
District, making District Magistrates give wide publicity to the Act and about
Government Programmes for welfare of Elders; by establishing State Councils; District
Committees; preparing up to date lists of all senior citizens living in
jurisdiction of each Police Station and forming of Volunteers` Committees for
each Police Station.
8. Get
Cooperation of all Newspapers, private TV Channels and Bollywood etc: This is
absolutely necessary for creative use of entire Media for highlighting
continuously the changing situations of Elders, active ageing, intergeneration
bonds etc
9.
Increase Indira Gandhi National Old
Age Pension (IGNOAPS): At present, amount of Rs 300 is given
by Central Government for paying to less than 1 crore senior citizens belonging
to BPL Family out of 4 crore BPL Senior Citizens in the Country. This is a
mockery of Elders of the Country.
Financial Constrains are for only helpless, ailing BPL Elders of a Highly
Advanced & Financially Prosperous Country, which boasts in the ENTIRE WORLD
for having RESPECT for their ELDERS!! Government spends Rs 20000 p.a. (more
than Rs 1600 p.m.) for one Under Trial Prisoner and much more for convicts.
Even alcoholic & drug addicts are granted Rs 900 p.m. by same Govt
for food during their remaining in Anti-addict Centres! Kindly, look in to this mockery of Elders and
increase the amount to Rs 2000 p.m., as demanded by Pension Parishad. For Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY), Para
2.8.3 of Report of XII Five Year Plan (2012-17) Working Group on ``Social
Welfare`-`October, 2011 recommended to
provide insurance to the extent of Rs 1 lakh in place of existing Rs 30000.
This is required to be implemented
early. RSBY is required to be modified on
lines of Schemes being implemented by Maharashtra, Andhra & Tamilnadu
States, classifying those having income up to Rs 1 lakh p.a. as BPL and those
between 1 to 5 lakhs as APL. Pension & Insurance should be admissible to
APL also.10. Get Integrated Programmes for Older Persons (IPOP) Implemented fully for improving the quality of life of the Older Persons by enforcing Municipalities/Panchayats to provide 16 Schemes in each ward by time bound targets.
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