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| Senior Citizens-A social responsibility of the State | | | Vikram Gour | 2/12/2012 11:14:54 PM |
| A community is known by the way it treats its vulnerable sections of the society such as the Elders. Traditionally, in India, it has been a part of our culture, for society and family to take care of older persons. Senior Citizens (SC) are held in high esteem and are given priority and respect in all matters. A demographic revolution is under way throughout the world. Today world wide there are about 600-million aged persons above 60-years and over. This figure is going to double by 2025 and will reach virtually 2-billions; vast majority of them in developing countries.
Today, rapid urbanization and compulsions of modern working conditions have lead to a breakdown of the traditional joint family system resulting in the growth of nuclear families. Better medical facilities have lead to increase in longevity. Like over all population of the country, the population of the Senior Citizens (SC) is also growing at a fast rate. As on today, we the senior citizens constitute about 9% of the total population i.e. over 10-crores. In percentage terms their population is projected to rise to about 12.4% by 2026 i.e. 176.1 millions.
What exactly is the situation in our state of J&K we do not know for sure? Majority of the elders are in the rural areas where the government agencies under the Social Welfare deptt have made no effort to improve their lot although, there are several schemes available for taking care of medical and socio-economic condition under various schemes both with the GOI and the state Social Welfare deptt. AWSC submitted two Welfare Schemes under GOI 'Integrated Program for older Persons' one for running of 'Multi-care day Centre for Older Persons' and 2nd 'for 'sensitizing Program for Children in Schools and Colleges' for the year 2009-10 through Director, Social Welfare, Jammu in April 2009. These schemes after verification were forwarded to Secretary, Social Welfare Dept vide No. DSWJ/251-G/16566 dated 29.12.2009 for approval and further submission to the Ministry of Justice and Empowerment, Govt of India. The secretary Social Welfare, J&K Govt took almost took six months and retained one of the schemes and forward only one scheme (for the reasons best known to them) to Govt of India Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on 3rd March, 2010 for approval and sanction financial assistance for the year 2010-11. The Schemes are still lying with the Ministry of Justice and empowerment, GOI. On enquiry from Joint Secretary, Ministry of Justice and Empowerment it was learnt that since the state government has asked sanction for the year 2010-11 which is already half finished these schemes would be sent back to the state for asking sanction for the year 2011-12. There is no word till date from the Ministry of Social welfare, J&K regarding the fate of schemes sent to the GOI although AWSC has several times reminded the Secretary Commissioner, Social welfare in the secretariat. It can be seen how callous is the state government even for availing financial help from GOI for the Senior Citizens what to talk of help out of their own resources. A Joint Memorandum high lighting some problems being faced by the Senior Citizens in the society, and which would help improve the plight of the hapless Elders, especially in the rural areas, was submitted to the Government during the Govenor's rule in 2008. The problems covered:-
STATE POLICY ON OLD-ER PERSONS & MAI-NTENANCE OF PARENTS/ELDERS ACT 2007.
On the basis of the National Policy on Older Persons (NPOP) adopted in Jan. 1999 there is an urgent need to formulate state policy on Older Persons as well as adoption of maintenance of Parents/Elders Act 2007 (GOI) by the J&K state.
HEALTH CARE.
Separate Units covering all facilities be established for Senior Citizens in all government hospitals. 10% beds be earmarked for senior citizens. Health Insurance for SC with affordable premium. For SC below poverty line premium should be paid by the government. Facility of trained nurses for needy ailing SC at their residences may be introduced on the patron being followed by Rajasthan Government. For Retired govt. servants medi-claim facility be revived.
PROVISION OF SHELTERS/DAY CARE CENTRES.
There is a great need to provide adequate institutional care (day care and residential) for SC. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment GOI has number of schemes for financing NGOs for establishment of such care homes which need to be exploited by the state government.
MAKING PUBLIC SERVICES USER FRIENDLY.
The existing services by the government need to be made accessible, client oriented and user-friendly for older persons particularly in the field of shelter, health and transport.
UTILISAING SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE OF THE SC.
A mechanism needs to be devised to take benefit of the skills and experience of SC in all fields.
ENCOURAGING THE NGOs.
The NGOs working for the welfare of SC be encouraged through financial and non-financial measures. State should make arrangements for providing working accommodation for offices etc. There were a couple of more demands including security & safety of the SC. All the above stated points were to be discussed in detail in the meeting of the Advisory Council. As NGOs, we ensured the govt. that we shall provide full cooperation in implementing such schemes. Acting on one of the submissions made in the memorandum His Excellency, the Governor constituted a State Level Advisory Council for Welfare of Senior Citizens under his Chairmanship and expressed his desire to hold first meeting immediately. But the election process had started by then and the popular government came into being and they had their own priorities. Inspite of our repeated requests to the Governor, Chief Minister, Minister for Social Welfare and the secy/comr Social Welfare no meeting has been possible till now. A representation in person was also made to H E Sh. N.N. Vohra,the Governor regarding holding a meeting the said Advisory Council in a meeting held as early as April, 2011 but till date no such meeting has been called by the concerned Minister, Social Welfare Minister. This only shows the callousness of the State Government towards the Senior Citizens of the state in even discussing the problems being faced by SC. |
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