Glimmer In The Twilight

Initiative Helpage

Key points in the proposed bill for senior citizens:

• The aged will have the right to claim maintenance from children and grandchildren
  
• A tribunal will be set up in each district to decide on claims
  
• Provisions to be made to protect the property of the aged, if needed, transfer of property can be declared void
  
• State governments to take care of the health needs of the aged by setting up a ward for geriatrics in every district-level hospital
  
• Every district to have old age home

The proposed bill also makes it mandatory for state governments to take care of the health needs of the aged by setting up a ward for geriatrics in every district-level hospital. At present, geriatric care is almost non-existent in most medical facilities, including private hospitals. In fact, most medical colleges do not even offer a course in geriatrics.

The bill also envisages setting up of old age homes in each district to provide minimum standards of basic facilities like food, clothing, recreation and addressing the spiritual needs of senior citizens. These homes, the bill suggests, can be set up either by the state or in partnership with NGOs. Even private organisations can set up pay-and-stay homes for those who can afford it. Since the old who are economically self-sufficient are vulnerable to crimes and are soft targets for anti-social elements, the bill stresses on the need to provide proper police vigilance and protection.

owever, even before the bill becomes a legislation, there are questions being raised on the financial implications it involves. The provisions of the bill translate into a recurring annual expenditure of Rs 5,000 crore for the central government. The finance ministry has already expressed its reservations. Which is why the bill has been referred to a Group of Ministers before being tabled in the Lok Sabha. However, officials of the social justice ministry are optimistic that the bill will be cleared for tabling in the House during this winter session.

Everyone in the ministry is agreed that a legislation of this kind is necessary given the fact that the population of senior citizens is growing. Also the existing security net is out of reach for a sizeable number of retired persons. As in the case of 78-year-old Krishan Kumar. His health insurance premium has gone up threefold in the last one year after the Oriental Insurance Company decided to hike its premium for senior citizens. Kumar does not have the money to pay for his medical cover. For people like him, the proposed bill offers some hope since it makes his immediate family and the state responsible for his welfare.