Govt. to bring new national policy on senior citizens, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• Draft policy on senior citizens under development by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Senior citizens projected to form 20% of India’s population by 2047; 12.16% by 2026.
• Current reference for Census headcount to be March 2027.
• Discussions focused on digital inclusion, elder abuse redressal, and institutional standards for old age homes.
• NGOs and senior citizen associations may be institutionalised in policy planning and feedback systems.
• Over 5 lakh elderly have received free assisted living devices under the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana.
• Review of progress under Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC) and Senior Citizen Portal conducted.

Detailed Insights:

• The government is revising its national policy for senior citizens to address changing healthcare, social security, and welfare needs.
• Key focus areas include:
• Promoting digital literacy among seniors.
• Enhancing community engagement and intergenerational bonding.
• Setting infrastructure standards for elder care.
• Priorities also include grievance redressal for elder abuse and better follow-up for the distribution of assisted devices.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Demographic Transition: Shift in a population's age structure, often resulting in an ageing population.
• Digital Inclusion: Ensuring equitable access and literacy in digital tools and platforms, especially among marginalised groups.
• Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY): Central scheme providing free assisted-living aids to economically weaker elderly persons.

Mains Mock Question:

“Discuss the key challenges and policy measures needed to address the needs of an ageing population in India. How can digital inclusion and community engagement play a role in this regard?”