Virender Kumar Gupta
The world’s population is ageing. Virtually every country in the world is experiencing growth in the number and proportion of older persons in their population. As per a survey report, the current life expectancy for World in the year 2023 is 73.16 years, a 0.24% increase from 2022. Likewise, the current life expectancy for India in the year 2023 is 70.42 years, a 0.33% increase from the year 2022, against 35.21 years in the year 1950. Read-through of world population statistics leads us to the conclusion that in recent decades a dramatic change has been noted in the composition of the population not only in India but in the world as a whole as well. According to the Population Census of 2011 in India, there were around 104 million old citizens with an age of 60 years and above; whereas, presently over 140 million people living in India are estimated to be aged over 60 which comes to around 10% of the country’s total population. Moreover, the proportion of older people in India is expected to almost double to 19.5% in 2050 with 319 million people aged over 60. This means that by 2050 every 1 in 5 Indians is likely to be a senior citizen. A report published in ‘UNESCO Courier’ — official monthly magazine of UNESCO says, “The truth is that the Gray wave is already here – and it is not just a wave but a rising tide”. Thus, getting old is an international issue that is likely to become one of the most central and leading social transformations of the twenty-first century; which in turn is expected to have a bearing upon almost every segment of the global social order; such as labour, financial markets, demand for goods and services, including higher provisions for not only appropriate but old age-friendly housing, transportation and social protection, etc. Anyhow, older persons are increasingly seen as contributors to development, whose abilities to act for the betterment of themselves and their societies should be woven into policies and programmes at all levels. In the coming decades, many countries are likely to face fiscal and political pressures in relation to public systems of health care, pensions and social protections for a growing older population.
Perhaps, taking a cue from the alarming situation, the United Nations General Assembly has declared 2021-2030 as the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing and asked WHO to lead the implementation. The UN Decade of Healthy Ageing is a global collaboration bringing together governments, civil society, international agencies, professionals, academia, the media and the private sector for 10 years of concerted, catalytic and collaborative action to foster longer and healthier lives. The United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030) seeks to reduce health inequities and improve the lives of older people, their families and communities through collective action in four areas: changing how we think, feel and act towards age and ageism; developing communities in ways that foster the abilities of older people; delivering person-centred integrated care and primary health services responsive to older people; and providing older people who need it with access to quality long-term care.
In retrospect, it may be noted that historically in the United States of America, welfare measures for the benefit of elderly persons came to be initiated with the enactment of the “Social Security Act (Act of August 14, 1935)”. In fact, that was a legislation of general nature covering aged persons among other categories like blind persons, dependent and crippled children, maternal and child welfare, public health, etc. But then, in the year 1988, Ronald Reagan the former President of the United States of America, for the first time, officially recognised the significance of senior citizens, with his following observations;
“Throughout our history, older people have achieved much for our families, our communities, and our country. That remains true today, and gives us ample reason this year to reserve a special day in honour of the senior citizens who mean so much to our land,”
He took an exclusive initiative to honour senior citizens with the signing of a Proclamation (5847) on 19th of August 1988, which marked August 21 to be celebrated as the ‘National Senior Citizens Day’.
In this context, it may be added that among others, ‘The Association for Welfare of Senior Citizens Jammu – a registered NGO is actively working for the cause of the welfare of Senior Citizens in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir since 2001. With exhaustive efforts and resolute follow-up by the said Association, Central Government as well as the UT administration have, in the past few years, initiated/taken following welfare measures, viz;
* The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007’ – a Central Act — has been made applicable to the UT of J & K in replacing the old erstwhile State Legislation.
* As envisaged under Section 32 of the Act, The Jammu and Kashmir Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Rules, 2021 have been framed and issued.
* Maintenance Tribunals at the Sub Divisional level and Appellate Tribunals at the District level as enshrined under sections 21 and 22 of the said Act have been constituted.
* In terms of Rule 23 of ‘The Senior Citizens Rules’, District Committees headed by Deputy Commissioner concerned have been constituted, to advice in the effective and coordinated implementation of the Act at the District level.
* With the objective of expeditiously attending complaints & grievances of elderlies, a ‘National Helpline for Senior Citizens’ also called “Elder line” – ‘14567’ has been established, which is available from 8.00 AM to 8.00 PM (except on 3 National holidays). In the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, the helpline is being operated by Department of Social Welfare through ‘HelpAge India’- a National NGO. A senior citizen facing any sort of problem may take assistance of the helpline directly or approach the Association for Welfare of Senior Citizens through any of its office bearers for redressal of any cause of distress.
The Association for Welfare of Senior Citizens express its gratitude to the Central Government and the UT Administration for adoption of these measures. At the same time, considering that the World Senior Citizens’ Day is an important occasion to remind the Government of its commitment to work for welfare of older persons, the Association solicit attention of the UT Authorities to initiate required steps on the following matters concerning Senior Citizens;
i. To establish a ‘UT Council of Senior Citizens’ to advice the Government on effective implementation of the Act and to perform such other functions in relation to Senior Citizens as the Government may specify, as envisioned under Rule 22 of the Senior Citizens Act, 2007.
ii. To ensure that the life and property of Senior Citizens are protected and they are able to live with security and dignity (Rule 21 of ‘The Senior Citizens Rules’).
iii. Although, the Maintenance Tribunals as well as the Appellate Tribunals have been constituted, vide SO No 49 and SO No 50 dated 04-02-2022, actual functioning does not seem to have been effectively started. Further steps are needed to be taken to guarantee the effectiveness of these Tribunals as well as Maintenance Officers with a view to ensuring timely and fair disposal of applications for maintenance and execution of Tribunals’ orders; which should invariably include making available adequate number of prescribed/ applicable forms in the offices of common contact, like Post Offices, SDMs offices, District Offices, PDS Outlets, Police Stations, etc.
iv. To prepare panel of persons suitable for appointment as Conciliation Officers – Rule 4 of ‘The Senior Citizens Rules, 2021’.
v. To ensure regular and wide publicity of the provisions of the Act, as well as other Central and UT Government(s) programmes for the welfare of Senior Citizens as envisaged under section 21 of the Senior Citizens Act, 2007.
vi. In terms of Rule 20(2-vi) of ‘The Senior Citizens Rules, 2021 to ensure periodic sensitization of officers of various Departments and Local Bodies concerned with the welfare of Senior Citizens, towards the needs of such citizens, and the duties of the officers towards the latter.
vii. Preparation of a detailed plan for the development of “Pay and Stay Homes”, “Day Care Homes” and “Old age Homes” to be implemented in a phased manner.
viii. To ensure that privileges relating to medical support to senior citizens are available adequately, freely and conveniently (Section 20 of the Senior Citizens Act, 2007).
The write up may be concluded with a famous saying, “old people are not old, they are the gold”.
(The author is a retired JKAS officer, and presently President ‘ Association for the Welfare of Senior Citizens J&K Jammu (Regd.)
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