Government to sustain all programmes for elderly, ensure pension

New Delhi: With the number of aged persons in India projected to increase from 103.8 million now to 173.2 million by 2026, government is trying to formulate a suitable policy framework to meet the challenge it will pose in socio-economic and public health spheres. "We are committed to doing everything we can to address the issue of the elderly and the Ministry will not only sustain the programmes that are being implemented across  the country for the elderly but will also ensure pension for  the elderly," Union Minister for Social Justice and  Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot said today. 

He said the government has been making constant efforts to formulate a suitable policy framework, action plan and effective implementation to enable its people, their family  and the society at large to face these challenges and also to  harness the beneficial effect of the demographic change  He was speaking at the inauguration of the two-day  National Conference on 'Elderly: Dignity, Health and Security'  organised by the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) in  collaboration with the Population Research Centre (PRC). 

The Minister assured all stakeholders present that the  Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will take on board  all the recommendations and suggestions made at the Conference  and ensure their implementation.  Gehlot apprised the gathering that at present about 65 per cent of the population is below 40 years, and 20 years down, the percentage of the elderly is to going to increase  many fold. "The number of aged persons in India now is 103.8 million  and its is projected to increase to 173.2 million by 2026. 

"We will also strengthen convergence with all key social  sector ministries-such as Health and Family Welfare, Rural  Development, Panchayati Raj and the Census Commission to name  a few to ensure a coordinated response on the multiple  challenges we are facing," he stated. "We are committed to doing everything we can to address  the issue of the elderly and the Ministry will not only  sustain the programmes that are being implemented across the  country for the elderly but will also ensure pension for the  elderly," he said. 

Under the Integrated Programme for Elderly Persons which  is a planned scheme of the government, financial assistance is  being given to non-governmental, voluntary organisations and  panchayati raj institutions for running of old age homes and  respite care homes for the elderly, he said. The key areas identified for more focused deliberation at the conference were social security, health, women and ageing  and special initiatives mounted by state government to reduce  the vulnerability of the elderly. 

Pointing out the challenges posed by the rising numbers of the elderly, Sudhir Bhargava, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, stressed on the quality of  preparedness to cope with the complex set of problems posed by  the population which is above 80 years of age. "We estimate that we will need 10 million caregivers to  address the needs of this population and a massive training  programme to create competent human resource is a vital area  that we need to collectively address," he emphasised.