How much does MOSJE care for Senior Citizens?

How much does MOSJE care for senior Citizens?

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, MOSJE as it is known, is responsible for the welfare of senior citizens in our country. Older Persons are only one of the many areas of this ministry’s concern. Naturally, Senior citizens are given a raw deal when compared to subjects like welfare and protection of backward classes, Tribal welfare, Alcohol and drug abuse, Disabled persons etc. The treatment meted out to the elderly population who constitute nearly 10% of the present population is might bad and appalling. Take a look at this boxed info:

During 2010-11 MOSJE spent out of a total budget of Rs 4300 crores, 8.71% of its budget on 2.19 of population (disabled) as against 1.69% of its budget on 7.5% of population (senior Citizens).

That is where we stand in the eyes of MOSJE. Data for earlier years is not any better. This kind of discrimination and injustice must be fought united by all who are affected, that is, senior citizens themselves. Starting from 2010, consecutively for the past three years, AISCCON has observed 16^th August every year, what is known as “Senior Citizens National Protest Day”. As a result of “chest beating” for many years, MOSJE, at last appears to have started listening to our problems.

Appended is a table giving details ofbudget and expenditure of MOSJE. It gives total allotment for 12^th five year plan, Estimated budget, revised budget and actual expenditure, Budget allocation for 2012-13, and lastly budget allocation for 2013-14. There is a semblance of allocation of funds for seniors’ welfare. Let us examine the particulars.

Consider the allocation on various items of concern for older persons for 2013-14, total provision in 12^th plan and pro-rate annual and how MOSJE is faring:

SN	Item	2013-14	Pro-rata Annual	Entire 12th Plan	Remarks
1	OAH	NIL	NIL	NIL	Disappointing
2	Helpline at National Level	5	0.4	2	V Good
3	Helplines district level	2	3.6	18	Less
4	NCSC	2	7	70	Far less
5	National Trust	2	7	70	Far less
6	NPOP	2	3	15	OK
7	IPOP	2	3	15	OK
8	MWPSCA	2	5	50	Far less
9	IPOP	4.5	88	440	Abysmally low

This in itself is somewhat encouraging, though much more is expected. Considering the annual plan of action – to be discussed in another post shortly – we can confidently hope that MOSJE is turning a leaf and we are in for good times. Let us wait and see.

Fwd: Private hospitals to have relief funds for elderly

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130626/news-current-affairs/article/private-hospitals-have-relief-funds-elderly

-- 

Private hospitals to have relief funds for elderly

DC | R. Ayyappan | 12 hours 12 min ago

Thiruvananthapuram: The state government will direct private hospitals in the state to set up a 'relief fund' for financially-distressed senior citizens. The treatment cost of destitute old people, however high it is, will have to be met from this nest egg. This is one of a series of measures included in the newly-unveiled state policy for senior citizens to make the private healthcare sensitive to the needs of the old.

The policy, right at the outset, states that the private sector has failed to take care of the needs of the old people. "The private hospitals that have proliferated in the state in the post-liberalisation era have not accorded adequate consideration to the health needs of  senior citizens," it  says. The policy speaks about imposing a "moral code" to control the private sector, though it does not say how. 

"This moral code will bring about a reduction in the cost of treatment and medicines," the policy states. The policy is sympathetic to the health requirements of senior citizens in general. "The state government will negotiate with the hospitals in the private sector to subsidise the treatment cost of senior citizens, irrespective of their economic status," it says.

Besides, the government will also set up a government-controlled comprehensive health insurance fund for future senior citizens. Working men and women will be asked to part with a small share of their earnings that will go into the fund which will be used  to take care of their future medical needs.

Government hospitals will set up exclusive areas for the treatment of senior citizens and the private sector will be asked to follow suit. "Senior citizens should get automatic medical service. They should not be made to walk endlessly from one counter to the other," the policy states.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS: 

* Geriatric care to be included as a super specialty subject 

* Geriatric wards to be formed up to taluk hospitals

* Senior citizens with less than Rs 2.5 lakh annual income will receive free medicines

* Unemployed youth to be trained as home nurses for the aged

* Distribution of nutritious food for the financially-weak senior citizens

V.RAGHAVENDRA RAO,

2142,Calle Mesa Alta,

Milpitas,

CA 95035.USA.

518-810-7075