POSHAN ABHIYAN FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that the growing elderly population of the country is expected to touch three hundred millions by 2050, and the struggle for existence is a daily fight for many of India’s seniors or the greying population;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the steps being taken by the Government to mitigate this problem;
(d) whether the Government is planning or contemplating to launch a Poshan Abhiyan for the Elderly; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
(SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)
(a) to (c): According to report of Government of India’s Technical Group on Population Projection for India and States brought out in July, 2020, till the year 2036, population of senior citizens would be 22.74 crore (14.9%) .
To ensure dignified ageing, Government of India has been implementing schemes and programmes under ‘National Action Plan for Senior Citizens’, an Umbrella Scheme for Senior Citizens, which inter alia includes financial security, healthcare and nutrition, shelter and welfare, protection of life and property, active and productive ageing and awareness generation.
(d)&(e) Yes, sir. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment aims to launch a Poshan Abhiyan for the Elderly, to provide nutrition support to the indigent elders, who are not staying in the Old Age Homes and are victims of severe malnutrition, by focusing on procuring locally available healthy food material and serving hot-cooked mid-day meals. The Gram Panchayats and Urban Municipalities are the implementing agencies of the Scheme. The funding for the Scheme is from the Senior Citizens Welfare Fund.