National Review Committee on National Policy on Older Persons-For Elderly Interests or Vested Interests?

Online, March 22, 2010 (Newswire.com) - It is very unfortunate that even after 11 years of formulation of National Policy on Older Persons it could be hardly implemented in the country. It seems that Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, the nodal agency for the policy implementation, had come up with this policy in a hurry, following the western countries, where living conditions of older persons are completely different. That's why Government of India could not implement it at grass root level.
During the initial years of policy's existence, the implementation process of the policy was gaining momentum, but later, policy implementation process was found crippled. Now, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India has to set up National Review Committee on National Policy on Older Persons to review & redraft the Policy without having implemented anything out of the 11 year old policy.
Over the years, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has boasted about its Policy on Older Persons, but living conditions of older persons have gone from bad to worse in the country. So far as the Policy is concerned, it has been observed that-
- Policy document is full of principles & promises but there is hardly any thing which has been implemented so far.
- Policy is incomplete on many fronts. Many important issues pertaining to Older Persons were not covered in the policy, such as harassment of older parents by their sons or daughters-in-law.
- Ground realities have changed during the last decade, due to rapid increase of population of older persons
- Agencies/ authorities designated for the implementation of policy have virtually no powers.
- Welfare of older persons has always been neglected sector in India in comparison to women, children, AIDS or drugs. Appointment of low profile or less competent bureaucrats with the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment by Government of India clearly indicate the same.
- Demand of Old Age Homes is on rise, but in spite of Government's announcement to establish Old Age homes at district level, no significant progress has been seen in this direction.
- Health care facilities like Mobile Medical Vans are for older persons but there is no system in place that only older persons could take benefit out of this scheme. It has been seen that these facilities hardly reach to the doorstep of needy ailing older persons.
- Since elderly population, in comparison to younger generation is fast increasing in the country and in old age people have to face a lot of medical problems, setting up of geriatric care centres in the country has become need of the hour. But in this direction nothing has been done so far.
- So far is National Old Age Pension Scheme is concerned, still millions of needy older persons, even in the category of BPL are not covered under the scheme.
- Role of research activities can not be denied in finding solutions for problems. But the Ministry has overlooked research activities.
- Even after 11 years, the Ministry could not bring pro-elderly regulations. Only act that the ministry could finalize is Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, that too has limited provisions for the older persons. Tribunals have not been set up in all the district of country and where they are in place, they have no specific guidelines on how to work for older persons. Senior citizen security laws are in place but they have no stand in courts of law. (Ref.: Lotika Sarkar case)
India is the largest democratic country of the world with 15% of the world elderly population (90 million older persons). Indian elderly constitute a big chunk of actual voters who decides the country leadership.
Political leadership in India is controlled by older persons, but there are few pro-older persons policies in the country. Its irony of our country where Jug Jug Jio is probably the only traditional blessing in our society.
Ministry has now planned to review and redraft National Policy on Older Persons (unimplemented in last 11 years so far) and constituted Review Committee satisfying its vested interests;
• Mr. M M Sabharwal of HelpAge India, which is a chapter of multinational HelpAge International
• Mr. Gangadharan, President of Heritage Hospital, Hyderabad (Owned by Dr. Reddy's Laboratories).
Mr. Gangadharan is also Vice President of IFA (Internal Federation on Aging)
• Ms. Shinu Srinivasan, associated with AARP (Association of American Retired People).
One obvious question arises that why Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India is so keen to allow vested interests of the international and corporate bodies to influence Indian policy initiatives?
Recently set up National Review Committee on National Policy on Older Persons has no representation of India based social organizations who have better understanding of ground realities of Indian elderly community.
It seems that Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India even now has no serious intention to implement the National Policy on Older Persons at grass-root level again.