New national policy for senior citizens under finalisation: Government

NEW DELHI: The new National Policy for Senior Citizens is under finalisation, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Replying to a question, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Sudarshan Bhagat said, in order to improve the living standard of senior citizens, different ministries and departments of the Government of India, along with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment are implementing various welfare schemes.

"Keeping in view the changing demographic pattern, socio-economic needs of the senior citizens, social value system and advancement in the field of science and technology over the last decade, the National Policy on Older Persons, 1999 has been reviewed and the new National Policy for Senior Citizens in under finalisation," he added.

As per 2011 census, the population of senior citizen in the country is 10.38 crore, which is about 8.6 per cent of the total population in the country, the Minister stated.

To another query, Bhagat said, a Non-Governmental Organisation, on the basis of a sample survey in 24 cities with 6,748 older persons, has reported that 23 per cent of the respondents experienced abuse.