Government considering new policy on elderly

NEW DELHI: Government is considering bringing a fresh policy on elderly people in the country, Lok Sabha was informed today.

Responding to supplementaries during Question Hour, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot said the government is considering a new policy for aged citizens.

As part of the policy, old age homes will have better environment for the inmates, such as availability of means of entertainment such as variety of channels on TV sets.

He was responding to a question by Srikant Shinde ( Shiv Sena) who said it was "shameful" that India has ranked poorly in a recent survey on elderly.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan advised the "young man" against using terms like 'shameful'.

She also said that if young people like Shinde take care of the elderly in their families, there would be little need for such policies.

In 1999, the country had adopted a policy for senior citizens which brings people above the age of 60 years under its ambit and extended certain benefits to them.