NPOP Formulates Welfare Schemes for Senior Citizens

The salient features of National Policy on Older Persons (NPOP) are to provide financial security, shelter, health care and nutrition and Protection of life and property of the older persons.

Some of the schemes formulated for providing financial security to the old aged persons are as given below:

Diseases Related to Old Age
Ageing is referred to the accumulation of changes that brings a person closer to death.

(i) Old Age Pension to persons above 65 years and whose family falls under BPL category;

(ii) Reverse Mortgage facility

(iii) Saving Schemes with higher rate of interest on savings by senior citizens,

(iv) Higher Income Tax exemption for older persons above 65 years;

(v) Medical insurance schemes for older persons.

Alzheimer’s disease - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Stages, Types, Prevention, Prognosis & Treatment
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting memory and thinking and making the person increasingly dependent on others.

National Council for Older Persons (NCOP) has been constituted as the implementation mechanism and to monitor the progress in achieving the objectives of the policy. The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 enacted by the Government also provides for maintenance, health care, shelter and protection of life and property of senior citizens.

The Government is also implementing the Integrated Programme for Older Persons, whereby assistance is provided to NGOs for providing basic amenities like shelter, food, medical care and recreation opportunities to older persons. Increase in allocation depends upon overall availability of budgetary resources and the demand received from time to time.

Parkinson's Disease
Slide animation on Parkinson disease. It is a progressive movement disorder due to degeneration of nerve cells of the substantia nigra of the brain. The symptoms get worse with time but drugs or surgery can control them. PD cannot be cured.

This information was given by Shri. D. Napoleon, the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

Source-PIB
SRM