Centre may soon bring new policy for senior citizens

Vadodara, Oct 17: Union Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot has said the government may soon come up with a new national policy for senior citizens, with focus on health care and accommodation for them.

A note (proposal) prepared in this regard has already been put up before Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gehlot told PTI here on Saturday while expressing hope that a decision on it is taken soon.

The Social Justice and Empowerment Minister was in town on Saturday for overseeing arrangements for distribution of tri-cycles, wheel chairs, hearing aids and other such implements to more than 14,000 'divyang' (differently-abled) people at a function to be held on October 22 in presence of the PM.

The proposal has been prepared by the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry in consultation with various others ministries and departments of the Central government.

It has taken into consideration the changing demographic pattern, socio-economic needs of senior citizens, and the social value system.

Gehlot said the government had been thinking of coming up with a comprehensive national policy for senior citizens to ensure their welfare since October last year.

"Keeping in mind the change in the socio-economic conditions in our society, programmes and policies were being re-framed to ensure their (senior citizens) well-being," he said, adding that the new policy for senior citizens would replace the existing one.

The new policy would provide better facilities to senior citizens living across the country.

The government has already sought suggestions from NGOs and other stakeholders for this purpose, the minister added.

PTI