Hyderabad: The central government is in the process of reviewing its national policy for senior citizens and is prepared to make changes to suit current needs, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot said on Friday. Delivering the address at the 12th global conference organised by the International Federation of Aging, he said that the union government is committed to the safety and well being of elderly people in the country.
"We are reviewing the policy. We will make changes if necessary to meet present requirements," Gehlot said. According to him, in India, as per the 2011 census, the population of senior citizens who are more than 60 years old, is 10.4 crore, which is 8.6 per cent of the population.
The figure is expected to reach 17.3 crore or 12.4 per cent of the total population by 2016, he said. "In order to improve the quality of life of senior citizens, the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has adopted a multi-pronged strategy which includes formulation of a national policy on older persons, enactment of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007," he said.
He said that the NPOP envisages state support to ensure financial and food security, healthcare, shelter, as well as protection of life and property in order to improve the quality of the lives of senior citizens.
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