The Himachal Government is planning to revamp the ‘Integrated Scheme for Older Persons’ with an aim to improve their quality of life by providing them basic amenities like shelter, food, medical care etc. through the non-profit organisations, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Friday said.
Presiding over a dissemination conference organised by India Country Office of the United Nations Fund for Population Activities, (UNFPA) and its partner’s Institute of Economic Growth Delhi and CRRID, Chandigarh to study about the status of elderly in Himachal Pradesh here, Singh said Himachal had around 10 per cent population of people aged 60 years and above which was higher than the national average.
The World Bank in its report recently had also highlighted the likely increase in ageing population of the State. He said that Himachal Pradesh was the first State to implement ‘Parents Maintenance Act’ which was laterimplemented by other States.
As a result of special emphasis being given to health sector, life expectancy has improved in an impressive manner, he added. With a view to provide best and affordable health facilities to the elders, the State Government had opened ‘Geriatric Wards’ in few district hospitals and such wards will be started in all districts health institutions of the State in near future, said that Chief Minister.