Analyse briefly various schemes initiated by the Centre and State Governments for the welfare of senior…

Question

Analyse briefly various schemes initiated by the Centre and State Governments for the welfare of senior citizens.

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

Central schemes for senior citizens include NSAP pensions under IGNOAPS, the Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana, PMVVY and NPHCE geriatric care, backed by the 2007 Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act. Telangana's Aasara pension tops up IGNOAPS to 2,016 rupees a month, though low awareness limits impact.

**Introduction**

India’s elderly population is projected to reach 230 million by 2036, necessitating comprehensive welfare schemes under constitutional mandates for social security⟦1⟧ and dignity. Changing family structures and urban migration have increased senior citizens⟦2⟧’ vulnerabilities, making government intervention crucial.

**Central Government Schemes**

1. **NSAP and IGNOAPS**: The National Social Assistance Programme⟦3⟧ (NSAP) provides pensions through schemes like the Indira Gandhi National Old Age⟦4⟧ Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), offering Rs. 200-500 monthly to over 2.85 crore beneficiaries as of 2020, supplemented by state contributions to enhance coverage.

**State Government Initiatives**

1. **State Action Plans and Telangana**: States design SAPSrC under central guidance to tailor welfare measures; ==Telangana tops up IGNOAPS through its Aasara pensions (₹2,016 a month) and promotes elderly care through NGOs under IPSRC==, encouraging self-help groups to enhance social participation and economic activity.

2. **Legal and Livelihood Measures**: States enforce the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, ensuring legal protection, and run programs like Senior Able Citizens for Re-employment and Dignity (SACRED) to provide employment and skill development opportunities for the elderly.

**Effectiveness and Challenges**

1. **Low Awareness and Insufficient Pensions**: Only 18% of eligible elderly access pensions, according to a UNFPA survey; pension amounts are often inadequate to meet basic needs, limiting poverty alleviation impact.

2. **Human Resource and Service Fragmentation**: There is a shortage of over 10 million trained caregivers, impeding quality elderly care; fragmented service delivery among government, NGOs, and private providers causes coordination challenges, necessitating stronger integration and regulatory frameworks.

**Conclusion**

Enhancing awareness, increasing pension amounts, strengthening healthcare services, expanding trained caregiver capacity, and reinforcing legal frameworks are vital for effective senior citizen welfare.

Analyse briefly various schemes initiated by the Centre and State Governments for the welfare of senior citizens.

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Social policies and welfare programmes in India and Telangana3 questions

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