Comments/Suggestions on New Policy for Senior Citizens.

Comments/Suggestions on Draft National Policy for Senior Citizens, 2011.

General:

1.      At many places, Draft appears to be in form of Points & Notes and presented in hurried way!! Many paras are not even numbered. Several paras contain sub paras which are also not numbered. Same pattern of giving number, as in existing Policy could have been followed. On enquiry, Shri R N Mital, President, AISCCON, who had sent this for comments, advised that this is a first draft, as given to him by Special Chief Secretary of A.P., who is a Member of Review Committee and after receiving and considering comments/suggestions, it will be given to Expert for proper presentation. This is a good idea. Given draft does not contain last few pages & Annexures.

2.      Review Committee`s Terms of reference were:

·         To assess the present status of various issues concerning senior citizens in general, and implementation of NPOP, 1999, in particular, and

• To draft a new National Policy on Older Persons, keeping in view the emerging trends in demographic, socio-economic, technological and other relevant fields.
• To submit the new draft policy to the government by 31 May 2010.The present Status of various Issues & New aspects of the Policy may be highlighted by showing them in Bold.Lot of efforts have been put in by Review Committee in making out New Policy. However, it may be better, if  name of the Policy may continue to be ``Reviewed National Policy for Senior Citizens, 1999.`` This will remind all Ministries & all Stake Holders about their failure to implement the Policy for 11 years and make them more sincere & serious towards implementation.

Comments/Suggestions:

3.      Demographic Background: This Section may be expanded to include what exactly is expected to be done for 80 + and Widows in rural & urban areas.

4.      National Policy Statement:

 i) Those, who retired before Economy Boom i.e. prior to 1995, got very less Settlement Dues, had less savings due to less earnings etc and get reduced interest on their savings and find difficult to maintain the original or near about standard of living in the present inflation inflicted market. Special treatment to this segment by higher rate of interest or some subsidy may be provided in Policy Statement.

 Ii) In NPS, it may be elaborated as to what Implementation Mechanisms are set and available.

 Iii) In NPS, elaborate as to how National Resource (Senior Citizens) is proposed to be utilized and how reemployability will be brought & ensured.

iv) It has been stated that States will set up homes for only abandoned Senior Citizens. This should be modified to include all poor Senior Citizens.

v)  As only bringing out various concepts in NPS, as in Policy, 99, may not bring any results in next decade also, provide clear directives for implementation of important concepts, specifying as to which Stake Holder shall initiate action and constantly monitor.

 vi) Elaborate what is aimed to be achieved by ``inclusive, barrier free and age friendly Society`` and how it is proposed to achieve it.

 vii) Unnumbered para after sub para 5:  ``State will extend their support for poor segment……………``: It may be better, if definition of poor segment & lower middle class is laid down in NPS, as present concept of BPL is vague and deprives majority of poor senior citizens, especially in Urban Areas,  of various benefits. Financial income limits for poor segment & lower middle class may be provided in NPS. That will go a long way to help the poor.

Viii) Para 4.1 (d): Ministry of Rural Development or Urban Development should not come in picture. Nodal Ministry & state Governments should deal with this.

ix) Para 4.3: Council at State Level is more necessary and may please be provided with target by which each State/UT must establish it.

x) Para 4.6: Policy: Use of word `destitute` may be omitted, as free ration is given to all BPL citizens at present. Provision of free clothes of some quantity & quality per annum, especially to ladies, may be thought of and provided.

Xi) Para 4.9: Here also, word destitute may please be omitted.

xii) Para 4.10: Similar responsibility may please be laid down in NPS for Urban Senior Citizens by Municipalities. Providing various Schemes under Integrated Programmes may also be included in NPS with target of 1-2 years by Panchayati Raj Institutions & Municipalities for each ward. These targeted programmes will bring the required interactions amongst all Senior Citizens of the area and mitigate their loneliness.

Principal Areas of Intervention:

6.      Health Care:

i)                    Para 5 ( c ): The  sentence -``availability of these devises will be expanded to cover uncovered & under serviced areas`` is not very clear. Please, elaborate the intension.

ii)                  Para 5 ( d ): A token Tax Incentive may be laid down in Policy with direction to Finance Ministry to fix norms and provide it in a year or so. Unless, Policy lays down the clear directives and names the Stake Holders, who will initiate & monitor for various provisions, the same position as for Policy, 99 will prevail.

iii)                Para 5.5 ( e ): Provide for higher than Rs 300000 limit for 5 members in RSBY.

iv)                Para 5.1: It may be better to specify in New Policy as to who will approach/issue instructions to Insurance Companies, Not for Profit Organizations, Trusts, Charitable Institutes, Private Medical Care Units etc, as neither Ministry of Health or Nodal Ministry has done this simple task of issuing instructions for 11 years!!

v)                  Para 5.3: New Policy may provide in clear terms that each Ministry at Centre, State and all Stake Holders up to the level of Panchayat/Municipality including those mentioned in iii) above concerned with provision of any facilities/concessions to Senior Citizens should provide Welfare Fund for health & other benefits. Even Finance Ministry, which is required to provide Welfare Fund for all purposes for Senior Citizens has advised vide their letter no. F.No.2/875970/2010-RTI dt 24-12-10 that ``No proposal has been received from Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment to create Welfare Fund for Older Persons.`` In view of this factual position, New Policy may give directive to the concerned Stake Holder to take action and wherever necessary by giving Target.

vi)                Para 5.4: In addition, please lay down that Ministry of Education at Centre & State level will make Geriatric & Gerontology Education part of syllabus for all Medical colleges in all Universities.

vii)              Add para 5.5 for compulsory provision of Physiotherapy & Mobile Medical Care Units in each ward for Senior Citizens within next 6 months.

7.     Financial security:

I )    Para 6: Old Age Pension will be linked to the Cost of Living Index and revised automatically every 6 months on par with Government Employees.

ii)  Para 6.1: Please, give sub para number to each under ``following``. Make Ministry of Finance at Centre & State level to initiate & monitor action on all aspects of Financial security in a time bound programme.

iii) Provide for higher Income Tax Exemption Limit  for 80+ & widows above 70.

8.     Security & Safety:

i)                    Para 8.1: Please, give number to each clause.

After Para 9, 10 is missing.

9.     Welfare:

i)                    Add Every Old Age Home will admit & look after physically disabled Senior Citizens and make special arrangements for their movements to toilets etc, as necessary, as most of the existing OAH refuse to admit such persons & restrict the admission to those, who can move about of their own.

ii)                  Para 12.1: Please, do not mix up Welfare Fund with concessions. Make provisions for Holiday Homes, Convalescent Homes etc.

iii)                Make a provision that each Employer, especially all Government Departments, Public Sector Undertakings & Corporate Bodies will look after their retired employees in all respects.

iv)                Add something for Reverse Mortgage Loan/Annuity for encouraging Senior Citizens to take advantage of the Scheme.

10.       Media:

i)                    Provide for one slot of half an hour at least once a week on specified day & time for each TV Channel and minimum quarter page/a corner every day in all Newspapers for giving latest information/happenings of Senior Citizens.

ii)                  Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to initiate & monitor the provisions of this portion of the Policy.

No Heading for para 15.1.

11.       Part 2-Implementation Review:

i)                    Please, give number to each observation.

ii)                  Inter-Ministerial Committee: Please, lay down the constitution, periodicity of meetings etc, as this Committee has hardly met & achieved anything in past 11 years!! As per information given in Policy Draft itself, it did not meet even once in 2006, 2009 & 2010!!

iii)                Five Year & Annual Plans: It should be made more clear in the Policy that these Plans are to be prepared by each Ministry at Centre & state/UT level and all Stake Holders and not only by Nodal Ministry.

iv)                Review every 3 years: Why after 3 years & why not every year regularly?  Please, provide for Annual Review as on 31^st December to be brought out to the notice of both Houses of Parliament & Legislatures in Budget Speech of Finance Minister along with provisions for next financial year.

v)                  NAOP, now NASC: Planning Commission has started registration of all Associations/Organizations working for Senior Citizens. Nodal Ministry and Each Ministry at Centre & State/UT & Panchayats-Municipality should get all Registered Associations/Organizations of their level registered with them (All- India level at Nodal Ministry level & Departmental Organizations with respective Ministries/Departments; State level organizations at State level and similarly with local bodies). Nodal Ministry and State/UT authorities should form NASC & State & District-City level Associations out of such registered organizations within next 6 months and provide them accommodation, other infrastructure, finance etc as laid down in Policy. It will be the endeavour on part of each of these Public Authorities to encourage all Senior Citizens to become member of such Associations.

vi)                Provide for separate Web Site for Senior Citizens within 3 months at Centre & State/UT level with Grievance Portal on par with Portal provided for Pensioners.

vii)              Provide for separate Directorate & Commission for Senior Citizens at Centre/State/UT level within next 6 months.

viii)            Provide for annual celebrations at various levels right up to Panchayat/Municipal levels for World Elder Day & World Awareness Day of Abuse of Senior Citizens. All Government/Public Sector Establishments at Centre/State/UT level should invite their retired employees in their all Public Functions in which serving employees are invited.

ix)                Role of Panchayat Raj Institutes & Municipalities may be brought out in more clear terms indicating various activities to be undertaken by them. All such local bodies should introduce system of supervision of various localities for civic facilities, as done by Dignity Foundation with Mumbai Municipal Corporation.