IPSrC under AVYAY funds 705 senior homes, 13 continuous care units, 3 clinics, 17 mobile units for maintenance.
RVY aids 7.93 lakh seniors with devices for vision, hearing, teeth, locomotor issues.
Elderline 14567 offers free guidance and emotional support.
Govt Schemes For Senior Citizens: Are Affordable Old Age Homes On The Agenda?
With a rising elderly population, the government needs to set up a supportive infrastructure and ecosystem for seniors, so that their old-age needs are well taken care of
Summary
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As the elderly population is rising in India, concerns are often raised about establishing a supportive ecosystem for them. When parliamentarian Kuldeep Indora asked a question regarding this, B.L.Vermа, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, gave a written reply. The minister referred to the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), according to which 23.8 per cent of the elderly (60 years and above) suffer from a minimum of one limitation in Activities of Daily Living (ADL). This data clearly indicates that care dependency grows with ageing.
The minister listed out the initiatives taken by the government for senior citizens.
IPSrC under AVYAY
The Minister said that under the Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC), under the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), aid is provided for running and maintenance of senior care homes, continuous care homes, physiotherapy clinics, and mobile medicare units. He informed that there are 705 senior care homes, 13 continuous care homes, 3 physiotherapy clinics, and 17 mobile medicare units. While these homes already exist, the reply didn’t mention anything about setting up new affordable old-age homes, assisted living facilities, or day care centres for senior citizens in different districts.
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Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) Under AVYAY
Under the RVY, senior citizens experiencing age-related infirmity are provided with assisted living devices. Around 0.79 million (7.93 lakh) seniors have been supported under the scheme. The devices help seniors in the normal functioning of the body and overcoming infirmity. These devices provide support in case of low vision, loss of teeth, hearing impairment, and locomotor disabilities.
PM-SPECIAL
In addition to it, the PM-SPECIAL (System for Provision of Eldercare in House and Assisted Living) scheme provides home-based care to seniors by geriatric caregivers. The scheme focuses on providing professional caregiving services to seniors.
Elderline (14567)
On the question of whether the government plans to strengthen the Elderline (14567), the minister replied that the Elderline provides free information, guidance, and emotional support. As informed in the reply, the government is making efforts to enhance the technological infrastructure for Elderline and enhance its call-handling capacity.
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MWPSC Act, 2007
Further, under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (MWPSC) Act, 2007, seniors can approach maintenance tribunals and appellate tribunals to seek speedy and summary justice and resolve their maintenance and welfare-related grievances.
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