Delhi govt's declaration for care of senior citizens adopted

New Delhi, Apr 27 (UNI) The State Senior Citizens Council today unanimously adopted Delhi government's declaration for care of senior citizens and a special policy for their welfare.

The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, which was attended by her cabinet apart from senior officers and members of the SSCC.

Addressing the meeting, Ms Dikshit said her government believed that senior citizens having given their most active years to the society working in various capacities now deserved special consideration by society at large and government in particular.

Ms Dikshit while elaborating vision of the policy disclosed that the policy aimed at tailoring existing services and developing new ones to meet the needs of the senior citizens having regard to their individual and collective needs.

It aimed to draw upon the capabilities of senior citizens also to further the betterment of society.

She added the policy considered persons of 60 years and more in age as senior citizens.

The policy envisaged ensuring welfare of senior citizens and improving quality of their lives. It aimed at providing assistance to enable them to cope with the problems of old age. It also proposed affirmative action by the government departments in collaboration with civil society for ensuring that the existing public services for senior citizens were made more user-friendly and sensitive to the needs of senior citizens.

Ms Dikshit said, the Policy visualised extension of help and support for improving financial security, healthcare, social care, physical security, as well as for meeting other needs of senior citizens.

It provided for active participation of senior citizens in fulfillment of initiatives envisaged in the policy for the welfare of senior citizens living in the city.

It recognised the need for larger budget allocation to provide for the welfare of senior citizens in the capital.

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