The Central Government has enacted the Maintenance
and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 in December, 2007
which, inter-alia, makes maintenance of parents/ senior citizens by
children/ relatives obligatory and justiciable through Tribunals;
provides for revocation of transfer of property by senior citizens in
case of negligence by children/ relatives; penal provisions for
abandonment of senior citizens; medical facilities for senior citizens;
and protection of life and property of senior citizens. The Act is
required to be brought into force by individual State Governments.
The Government of India has also announced the
National Policy on Older Persons (NPOP) in January 1999 which envisages
State`s support to ensure financial and food security, healthcare,
shelter and other needs of older persons to improve the quality of their
lives.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is
implementing a Central Sector Scheme of Integrated Programme for Older
Persons (IPOP) under which financial assistance is provided to State
Governments, Panchayati Raj Institutions/ Urban Local Bodies and
Non-Government Organisations, etc. for running and maintaining of old
age homes, day care centres, mobile medicare units, etc.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely, “National Programme for Health Care of Elderly (NPHCE)” to improve health services for the elderly.
The Ministry of Rural Development is administering
the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) under which
Central assistance is given towards pension @ Rs.200/ per month to
persons above 60 years and @ Rs.500/- per month to persons above 80
years belonging to a household below poverty line, which is expected to
be supplemented by at least an equal contribution by the States.
Besides, various facilities and benefits such as
income tax concession, air and rail fare concession, etc. are also
provided to senior citizens by the Central Government.
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