Kerala releases ''Old Age Policy-2006''

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 19 (UNI) Kerala has released its ''Old Age Policy-2006'', an action plan and a welfare project for the elderly population in the state.

Releasing the policy, Social Welfare Department Secretary Lida Jaccob told newspersons here today the aim of the policy was to ensure suitable affordable health care facilities to all aged people in the state.

She said the Government had demanded Gerontology Medicine as a branch of medical education in the State said preliminary steps in this regard had already started. The Government wanted to make geriatric medicine as important as pediatrics, she added.

Ms Lida pointed out since both boys and girls had equal responsibility for protecting their aged parents, the Government was seriously considering to register police case against those, who neglect and avoid their aged parents.

Stating that Kerala had the largest aged population in the country, she said 13 per cent of the total population in the State consisted of those above 60 years and by the end of 2020 it would be touched to 21 per cent.

The policy also recommends to set up more old aged homes, she added.

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