Recognising the schemes initiated by the State Government to protect the interests of senior citizens and ensure their welfare, President Pranab Mukherjee will confer a national award to Madhya Pradesh on the International Senior Citizens’ day on Tuesday.
The award is being conferred to the State by Union Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry under Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007. Commissioner Social Justice VK Batham of the State Government wil receive the award at a function to be held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.
Welfare programmes for senior citizens have been implemented in a better way in the State. Madhya Pradesh is regarded as one of the best states where various facilities and services have been provided to senior citizens. For effective implementation of Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, Maintenance Agencies have been constituted in 352 development blocks of 50 districts in Madhya Pradesh and 50 Appellate authorities have also been constituted.
Officers of Social Justice Department have been designated as District Maintenance Officers in all districts. As many as 271 cases have been registered under the Act during last 2 years of which 128 cases have been disposed of. Dispensaries are being run in tribal areas through Public Health & Family Welfare Department. Special treatment facility is available for senior citizens in government hospitals. They also get free treatment. There are 58 old age homes.
Of these, 10 new old age homes and four day-care centres have been started during the last 10 years. Per month maintenance allowance of senior citizens living in old age homes has been increased from Rs500 to Rs1000 with effect from April 30, 2013. Besides, old age pension is being provided to 14.67 lakh senior citizens of 60 to 79 years of age. Care-givers’ training programmes are being conducted with national-level institution Helpage India.
On Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s initiative, Senior Citizens’ Panchayat was held at Chief Minister’s residence on April 11, 2012. Maximum suggestions put forth at the panchayat have been implemented. State Senior Citizens’ Welfare Commission was constituted on February 5, 2013. Centenary functions are being organised to honour senior citizens of 100 or more years of age. So far, 271 senior citizens have been honoured under the programme since its inception on October 1, 2011.
Over one lakh senior citizens have visited various centres of pilgrimage on State government’s expenses under Mukhyamantri Tirth-Darshan Yojana launched in June 2012. Rein Baseras for senior citizens have been sanctioned at 11 religious places in the State.