The Recent Developments on the Issues of the Senior Citizens
Rs 1,000 minimum pension is almost a reality
Trustees of retirement
fund managing body EPFO has recently approved a proposal to provide a monthly
pension of minimum Rs 1,000, a decision that will immediately benefit about its
28 lakh pensioners.
The Central Board of
Trustees (CBT), the apex decision making body of EPFO also decided to raise the monthly wage ceiling to Rs
15,000 from Rs 6,500 by amending the EPF scheme, 1952, so that more workers can
be brought under its various social security programmes.
"The board has
decided to approve the proposed amendments in the schemes to ensure that Rs
1,000 minimum monthly pension under EPS-95 and also increased the wage ceiling
to Rs 15,000 per month," Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes, who chaired the
CBT meeting, told reporters.
At present, workers
getting basic wages, including basic pay and DA, of up to Rs 6,500 are covered
under the ambit of Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
According to an EPFO
official, the Labour Ministry will soon move proposal before the Union Cabinet
for its approval for the Rs 1,000 minimum monthly pension as the government
would have to make fund provisions for the purpose.
"We have also
reduced the administrative charges paid by the employers. Their burden would
increase with the increase in wage ceiling," the Minister said.
The board has also
decided to reduce administrative charges from 1.10 per cent of the basic wage,
including basic pay and dearness allowance, to 0.85 per cent.
Besides, the trustees
have also approved a proposed change in the methodology of computing the
pensionable salary.
The pensionable salary
will be calculated on the basis of average salary of the last 60 months instead
of 12 months as provided in the EPS-95.
However, the proposed
change in the methodology for computing pensionable salary was approved with a
dissent note from the trade unionist members of the CBT.
Global
Commission on Ageing
Developing countries including India
are working towards the setting up of a global commission on ageing in
developing countries. Discussions for such a commission were held at a recent
conference in China attended by Union
health and family welfare minister, Hon’ble
Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad.
The goal of the commission is to
enable gender, equity and rights based policies and programming that will
improve the quality of life of the ageing population in developing countries.
Senior citizens (above 60 years) are among the fastest growing demographic age group worldwide. According to UN projections, there are likely to be more people above 60 years around the globe in 2050 than children below 14 years.
The increasing ageing populations posed challenges for existing health systems, social security and, in some cases, employment, particularly in developing countries which weren't fully equipped with policies and programmes to deal with the age group.
Ageing has also been a key focus of the development agenda as experts gather to draw up priorities once the Millennium Development Goals lapse in 2015.
The Activism of the National Human Rights Commission
Senior citizens (above 60 years) are among the fastest growing demographic age group worldwide. According to UN projections, there are likely to be more people above 60 years around the globe in 2050 than children below 14 years.
The increasing ageing populations posed challenges for existing health systems, social security and, in some cases, employment, particularly in developing countries which weren't fully equipped with policies and programmes to deal with the age group.
Ageing has also been a key focus of the development agenda as experts gather to draw up priorities once the Millennium Development Goals lapse in 2015.
The Activism of the National Human Rights Commission
Senior citizens are still not
able to avail of the benefits of legislation formulated seven years ago for
their protection, as many states have not set up appropriate machinery for its
proper implementation. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has now
taken up the issue and has sought a report from all states and Union
Territories regarding the action taken in enforcing the Maintenance and Welfare
of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.
The NHRC is of the view that some
state governments are not implementing the provisions of the law in its true
spirit, leading to violation of human 'rights. With entrusted officers having
"no time" to deal with senior citizens, the NHRC made note of the
need for full-time officers in the capacity of a maintenance officer at the
subdivision level. The commission has given the states six weeks' time to inform
it whether they have constituted maintenance tribunals, appellate tribunals and
old-age homes, as well as ensured medical support for senior citizens.
The law provides that governments
shall establish old age homes for indigent senior citizens. It also states that
a government hospital ,or a hospital funded fully or partially by it, shall
provide beds for all senior citizens as far as possible for the treatment of
chronic, terminal and degenerative diseases.
The
wide ranging recommendations of the Standing Committee of Parliament for Social
Justice and Empowerment
A parliamentary committee has recommended that retirement age
should be increased from 60 years to 65 years, citing the increase in ageing
population and their productivity.
In its report tabled in Lok Sabha on 7th February 2014, the committee also advocated a host of benefits to the geriatric population, including upping their income tax exemption limit and setting up of super-speciality hospitals in all states exclusively for them.
"The committee would like the Ministry (Social Justice and Empowerment) to seriously consider the various options which would include reviewing the age of retirement, re-employment opportunities for the retired persons... and setting up a Directorate of Employment and Rehabilitation for Senior Citizens," it said.
Though India traditionally enjoyed robust joint family system taking full care of elderly persons, however, the Committee note with deep concern that with the fast changing socio- economic conditions, disintegration of joint family system and emergence of nuclear families, the old people are getting increasingly neglected adversely affecting their care and dignity. It is, therefore, important that Government and the community play a proactive role in taking care of the elderly. The Committee ardently hope that with the positive programmatic and policy intervention by the Government for the welfare of senior citizens and the progressive implementation of the laudable goals set for the old people in the UN resolution and in our own Directive Principles of State Policy would enable the senior citizens to lead a life of dignity and self-fulfillment. The Committee also recommend that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, in consultation with the Ministries of Commerce and External Affairs, apprise the Committee about the status of ratification of the said UN resolution by India in due course.
In its report tabled in Lok Sabha on 7th February 2014, the committee also advocated a host of benefits to the geriatric population, including upping their income tax exemption limit and setting up of super-speciality hospitals in all states exclusively for them.
"The committee would like the Ministry (Social Justice and Empowerment) to seriously consider the various options which would include reviewing the age of retirement, re-employment opportunities for the retired persons... and setting up a Directorate of Employment and Rehabilitation for Senior Citizens," it said.
Though India traditionally enjoyed robust joint family system taking full care of elderly persons, however, the Committee note with deep concern that with the fast changing socio- economic conditions, disintegration of joint family system and emergence of nuclear families, the old people are getting increasingly neglected adversely affecting their care and dignity. It is, therefore, important that Government and the community play a proactive role in taking care of the elderly. The Committee ardently hope that with the positive programmatic and policy intervention by the Government for the welfare of senior citizens and the progressive implementation of the laudable goals set for the old people in the UN resolution and in our own Directive Principles of State Policy would enable the senior citizens to lead a life of dignity and self-fulfillment. The Committee also recommend that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, in consultation with the Ministries of Commerce and External Affairs, apprise the Committee about the status of ratification of the said UN resolution by India in due course.
The
Committee are, however, dismayed to note that the issue of rapid population
ageing in the country has not received due attention of the Government and the
community at large. The Committee feel that to meet squarely the daunting task
of providing adequate social security, healthcare and other welfare measures to
senior citizens, there is an imperative need for integrated plan of action
involving various Departments and stakeholders. Since the community has a big
role in ensuring the well being of senior citizens, they should be actively
involved and their views taken on board while formulating such a plan. The
Committee, therefore, recommend the Government to put in place a robust
integrated action plan expeditiously with due consultation with all the stakeholders
and the elders
and
earnestly implement the same with in a definite time frame to fulfil the
Nation's commitment to address the serious problems of senior citizens.
Early
implementation of schemes for welfare of senior citizens during 12th Plan. The Committee
were informed that the Ministry have set up an expert committee to formulate a
few new schemes under the XIIth Five Year Plan for the welfare of the senior
citizens which include the scheme for awareness generation for Maintenance and
Welfare of Parents and Senior citizens Act 2007, setting up a helpline for
senior citizens at the National and District Levels, setting up a National
Commission for senior citizens, and setting up a National Trust for the Aged.
The Committee are anguished to note that the above schemes incorporated in the
12th Five Year Plan have not taken off so far, though, almost two precious
years of the Plan period have elapsed. The Committee recommend that the
Ministry take urgent necessary action so that these schemes are operationalized
at the earliest.
Periodic
meetings of National Council for Senior Citizens and State level councils. The Committee
deprecate to note that the new National Council for Senior Citizens constituted
on 22.2.2012, under the Chairmanship of the Minister for Social Justice and
Empowerment, has been largely dysfunctional as no meeting of the Council has
been held, though required to meet twice in a year. As the National Council for
Senior Citizens is an apex body on the policies and programmes for senior
citizens, the Committee urge that the Council may be fully functionalized at
the earliest alongwith constitution of State Level Councils for senior citizens
in all the States and the Committee apprised.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing
the Central Sector Scheme of Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP)
since 1992 with the objective of improving the quality of life of senior
citizens by providing basic amenities like shelter, food, medical care,
basically through Government/Non-Government Organizations, Panchayati Raj
Institutions/local bodies, etc. Important projects supported under the scheme
are old age homes, Mobile Medicare Units and respite care homes and continuous
care homes. The Committee are anguished at the low physical and financial
performance of the scheme under IPOP for the last three years. Surprisingly,
against a paltry budget allocation of Rs. 40 cr., only Rs. 20.67 cr. could be
utilized during 2010-11, the position was equally discouraging during the previous
years.
Programmes for
senior citizens in rural areas. The Committee note with deep concern
the rising population of senior citizens residing in rural areas and the
problems faced by them. The deposition of the representatives of an NGO that
the rural elderly are facing deprivation, discrimination and abuse only
reinforces the worry of the Committee. The Committee are distressed to note
that no State, Panchayati Raj institution and local body had, reportedly,
approached/sent their proposal seeking financial assistance/grant in aid under
the scheme of Integrated Programme for Older Persons for running any scheme for
the welfare of senior citizens. The Committee desire the Ministry to sensitize
the State Governments and local bodies so that programmes for welfare of senior
citizens are implemented in rural areas through day care centres and other
measures with the help of Panchayati Raj institutions and local bodies. If
necessary, the Ministry may consider to release funds for undertaking welfare
programmes to these institutions under IPOP. Needless to say, this would go a
long way in helping the senior citizens residing in rural areas, thereby giving
them access to healthcare, recreation, entertainment and peer interaction.
Setting up of
RRTCs in each State.
The Committee note that the Regional Resource and Training Cenres (RRTCs) is an
innovative project introduced in the revised scheme of Integrated Programme for
Older Persons (IPOP).The Committee are unhappy to observe that only 4 RRTCs
have been supported under the scheme. The Committee, therefore, recommend that
at least one RRTC should be designated in each state so as to maintain a data
base of institutions working in the field of old age care, the number of old
age persons who are destitute and need help, organise training programmes in
gerontology and liaison with State Government Departments dealing with welfare
of senior citizens whenever required.
Extension of
geriatric health care and other facilities in all the districts. The Committee
note that the National Programme for the Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE) is an important programme
which aims to provide separate and specialized healthcare to the senior
citizens. Due to the decline in the physical ability and increasing
susceptibility to diseases, the elderly need dedicated healthcare facilities,
especially the age group of 80+. The Committee note that 100 districts in 21
States have so far been covered under the NPHCE programme and geriatric daily
clinics have been established in 65 district hospitals and geriatric wards
established in 53 district hospitals. Also 8 Regional geriatric centres have
been opened in regional centres in major hospitals throughout the country.
Further, the National Institute of Ageing (NIA) at AIIMS, New Delhi and Madras
Medical College, Chennai is to be established during XII Five Year Plan for
which Rs. 1710.13 cr. have been approved during the Plan period. Appreciative
of the Government resolve to improve the coverage of NPHCE, the Committee
recommend that (i) geriatric healthcare should be extended in all the districts
of the country, (ii) given the projection of manifold increase in old age
population of the country in the next 20 years, super speciality hospitals be
set up exclusively for geriatric care in all the State capitals, (iii) wide
publicity be given to the scheme so that the senior citizens become aware of
the facilities existing in the various Regional Hospitals and District
Hospitals for them and avail the same without hassles, (iv) directions may be
issued to and it may be ensured that all Government Hospitals, district centres
and healthcare centres have separate queues and seating arrangements for the
elderly persons so that they get access to healthcare facilities on priority
without discomfiture while waiting for their turn inter se, (v) the
population of 80+ should be given priority over others in availing all medical
facilities, and (vi) suitable training be imparted to the care givers of the
old age population so that they handle the cases with greater sensitivity and
professionalism.
Need for health
insurance for the older persons or universalization of RSBY. The Committee
note that Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) have issued
instructions on healthcare for senior citizens to Chief Executive Officer of
all General Health Insurance Companies, which includes their entry upto 65
years of age. The Committee desire that the Government should work on a health
insurance scheme on the lines of the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY) for
the senior citizens or the RSBY universalised.
Revision in
pension ceiling and criteria for pension. The Committee note that the
Ministry of Rural Development is implementing the Indira Gandhi National Old
Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) under which Central Assistance is given towards
pension @ Rs. 200/- per month to persons above 60 years and Rs. 500/- per month
to persons above 80 years belonging to a household below poverty line, which is
to be supplemented by the States. The Committee feel that the pension provided
under the scheme is too low and desire that senior citizens in the country
should at least get an old age pension of Rs. 1000/- pm. The Committee also
desire that the criteria of below poverty line for availing old age pension
needs to be revised and may be universalized for all non income tax payers.
Better
monitoring needed of NSAP. The Committee note that the Ministry of Rural
Development have laid out a procedure for monitoring of the Central Assistance
schemes like the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), which provides
pension to the senior citizens. The Committee were apprised that the scheme is
to be reviewed by the Vigilance and Monitoring Committee (V&MC) constituted
at the District level. MPs have representation in these Committees. The
Committee recommend that the States hold monitoring meetings at least every
three months to vigorously monitor the pension schemes at the District and
State levels and give the requisite feed back to the Ministry of Rural
Development.
Sensitization of
young minds through education. Mindful of the rich cultural heritage of
India and the scriptural edicts which proclaim that an assembly must have
elders and that one who renders service to the elders, the longevity,
knowledge, fame and power of such a person gets enhanced. The Committee, therefore, recommend that the
Government of India in the Ministry of Human Resource Development may design
appropriate syllabus in order to enlighten the awareness of children about
great Indian cultural heritage and the esteem in which the elders have been
held from time immemorial and the far reaching benefits that accrue from the
care and service of the elders.
Need to
strengthen the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
The
Committee are, however, dismayed to note that the issue of rapid population
ageing in the country has not received due attention of the Government and the
community at large. The Committee feel that to meet squarely the daunting task
of providing adequate social security, healthcare and other welfare measures to
senior citizens, there is an imperative need for integrated plan of action
involving various Departments and stakeholders. Since the community has a big
role in ensuring the well being of senior citizens, they should be actively
involved and their views taken on board while formulating such a plan. The
Committee, therefore, recommend the Government to put in place a robust
integrated action plan expeditiously with due consultation with all the
stakeholders and the elders and earnestly implement the same with in a definite
time frame to fulfil the Nation's commitment to address the serious problems of
senior citizens.
The
Committee desire that the Government should strengthen the Ministry of Social
Justice and Empowerment for better liaisoning and coordination between the
various Ministries implementing the schemes for the welfare of senior citizens,
both at the Central and State level. In order to ensure that the elders get
proper access to food, shelter and the much needed healthcare in the twilight
of their life and that they lead a dignified existence, which is part of the
fundamental right to life, the Committee recommend that a permanent standing
machinery be created under the Chairmanship of the Secretary (Ministry of
Social Justice and Empowerment) for better conception, coordination and
effective implementation of various interdependent programmes for the welfare
of elderly people. Given the enormity of the emerging challenges in the next 20
years and the vulnerability of this age group, the Committee recommend that a
comprehensive law for the social security and protection of the dignity of
senior citizens of the country be enacted at the earliest. The Committee are
quite sanguine that if their recommendations are given due consideration and
implemented earnestly, the vision of 'grow old' and the 'best of life is yet to
be', would get fructified.
D.N.Chapke
President,
AISCCON
Author prabhakar chhatre
Author prabhakar chhatre
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