STEPS BY THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT

1. NATIONAL POLICY ON OLDER PERSONS(NPOP)
.1 Government of India announced the National Policy on Older Persons in 1999 to reaffirm its commitment to ensure the well-being of the older persons in a holistic manner.Reiterating the mandate enshrined in Article 41 of the Constitution of India, the Policy has
brought the concern for older persons on top of the National Agenda. The NPOP while promising to safeguard their interest in terms of financial security, health, legal, social and psychological security, also envisages a productive partnership with them in the process of
development by creating opportunities for their gainful engagement and employment. The Policy also appreciates special needs of older persons and therefore lays emphasis on empowerment of community as well as individuals to adequately meet the challenges of the process of ageing.


.2 The NPOP broadly provides for the following to fulfill these objectives:
1.Financial security through coverage under Old Age Pension Scheme for poor and destitute older persons, better returns on earnings/savings of Government/Quasi-Government employees’ savings in Provident Fund, etc., creating opportunities for continued education/skill up-gradation ensuring thereby continued employment/selfemployment and income generation and provision for Pension Scheme for selfemployed, employees of the non-formal, and non-governmental sector.


4.2.2. Health Security: The NPOP recognizes special health needs of the older persons to be met through strengthening and reorienting the public health services at Primary Health Care level, creation of health facilities through non-profit organization like trust/charity, etc., and implementing health insurance.


4.2.3. Recognizing Shelter as basic human need, the NPOP provides for earmarking 10 percent of the houses/housing sites in urban as well as rural areas for older persons belonging to the lower income groups, special consideration to the older persons falling in the category of Below Poverty Line (BPL) and destitute in housing schemes like Indira Awas Yojana, loans at reasonable interest rates and easy repayment installments with tax relief for purchase of houses etc.

4.2.4. Education/information needs of older persons too have got adequately reflected in the National Policy. Education/information material relevant to the lives of older persons should be developed and made available through mass media. Education,training and information being the important human requirement, the NPOP provides for proactive role in ensuring the same by disseminating knowledge about preparation of Old Age. It is also emphasized for schools to have programme on inter-generational
bonding.


4.2.5. Welfare and Institutional Care: Institutional Care has been provided for in the NPOP as the last resort. The care in non-institutional set up i.e. within family and the community needs to be strengthened and encouraged. This apart, the State should also create infrastructure in partnership with voluntary organizations to provide for poor,destitute and neglected older persons whose care cannot be ensured within the family.This is to be ensured through Old Age Homes and other such institutional facilities that would be needed. Voluntary efforts needs to be encouraged for creating facilities for day care, outreach services, multi-service citizen centres, etc.


4.2.6. Protection of Life and Property of Older Persons: The State has to gear up security network to save older persons from criminal offence and police is required to keep friendly vigil. Early settlement of property/inheritance disputes is to be done, safeguards to protect them from fraudulent dealings in transfer of property through sale/’Will’ are to be put in place and free legal aid and toll free helpline services are to be placed across the country. Maintenance of elderly within family resorting to the provisions of law viz. Criminal Procedure Code, (Cr.P.C.) 1973, Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act. (HAMA) 1956 etc., whenever needed is required to be ensured.


4.2.7. Training of Human Resource to care for Older Persons: The Policy lays
emphasis on need for trained personnel/care givers. This envisages the training of human resource in the areas like specialization in Geriatrics in medical courses, special courses on Geriatric Care in nursing training, training of social workers specially for geriatric care and professional caregivers.


4.2.8 Media: The Policy enjoins upon media to take up a special responsibility for the care of older persons. Media is to play a role in identifying emerging issues and areas of action, dispelling stereo-types and negative images about the old age,maintaining restraint from creating fear psychosis by responsible reporting, promoting intergenerational bonds and informing individuals/families/groups with appropriate information on ageing process