Vikram Gour
For the last couple of years Association for Welfare of Senior Citizens and other NGOs have been requesting the J&K Govt both directly and through media to evolve specific policy for senior citizens and adopt the GOI enactments for the welfare of Senior Citizens but the State Government headed by a young Chief Minister who seems to have ignored all such requests and is treating the Senior Citizens in a manner in which some of the youngsters treat their elders.
It needs to be added here that before coming in of the present Government,(under the Governor Rule)the Governor vide G.O. No. 1428-GAD of 2008, had constituted ‘State Level Advisory Council’ to address the problems of senior Citizens of the state which are over 10-lacs in number in the State . This was done on the request of the NGOs. Immediately after that the so called ‘popular government’ under Omar Abdullah took over. Inspite of several requests both written as well as oral, right from governor downwards, not a single meeting of the council has been held so far.
Several requests have been made through media by NGOs for formulating State Policy on the basis of National Policy on Older Persons (NPOP) adopted by GOI for the country in Jan. 1999 for the Older Persons in the state as well as adoption of maintenance of Parents/Elders Act 2007(GOI) by the J&K state. It may be of interest to know that both NPOP as well as Parents/Elders Maintenance Act 2007 of GOI has already been adopted by 24- states in the country and the Tribunals for settling cases under the Act have already been constituted in all these states. Our neighboring state H.P. has already circulated detailed ‘Draft Policy for Senior Citizens’ for public comments after carrying out district-wise survey about the elders above 60-years of age.
The Senior Citizens’ NGOs have been demanding from the Government especially the Social Welfare Department of J&K some basic facilities absolutely essential for the older persons but it appears that state government has ignored this sizable part of the state’s population and have left them at the mercy of God and their children. Some of the demands are listed as under:-
HEALTH CARE.
Separate Units covering all facilities be established for Senior Citizens in all government hospitals. 10% beds be earmarked for senior citizens. Health Insurance for SC with affordable premium. For SC below poverty line premium should be paid by the Government. Facility of trained nurses for needy ailing SC at their residences may be introduced on the patron being followed by Rajasthan Government. For Retired Govt. servants medi-claim facility be revived.
PROVISION OF SHELTERS
There is urgent need to provide adequate institutional care (day-care and residential) for SC as the existing old age homes are overcrowded and choked. Separate allocation of funds needs to be made for the purpose. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment GOI has number of schemes for financing NGOs for establishment of such care homes which needs to be exploited by the state government.
MAKING PUBLIC SERVICES USER FRIENDLY.
The existing services by the Government need to be made accessible, client oriented and user-friendly for older persons particularly in the field of shelter, health and transport.
UTILISAING EXPERIENCE
A mechanism needs to be devised to take benefit of the skills and experience of SC in all fields.
ENCOURAGING NGOs.
The NGOs working for the welfare of SC be encouraged through financial and non-financial measures. State should make arrangements for providing working accommodation for offices etc.
There were a couple of more demands including security and safety of the SC.
Since the Finance Minister is in the process of pre next Budget for the state (he himself being a senior citizen) should ensure that enough funds are specifically allocated for the benefit of senior citizens and the Ministry of Social Welfare takes some pains to understand that senior citizens of the state are also their responsibility.
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