The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2019 approved by Cabinet

The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2019 has been approved by Indian government Cabinet on 4th Dec 2019, it provides basic needs, safety and security to senior citizens.


SILVER INNINGS CLARIFICATION: To all our Friends, Senior Citizens, Family members, NGO's, Media, Activist and others, The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2019, is NOT ONLY ABOUT MAINTENANCE.

First we Thank Government of India CABINET for taking this important step.

Helpage India, Tata Trust, AISCCON, Silver Inning Foundation, Moneylife Foundation and other organisations had given suggestions and lobbied for amendment to 2007 act.

Please note the new amendment needs to be PASSED in Parliament,yesterday 4th Dec 2019 decision is only Cabinet decision.

There are many important aspect to this Bill, which is first time or more important as following:

“(i) Definition of ‘children’ and ‘parents’ has been expanded. Expanding the definition of children, which currently refers to only biological children and grandchildren, to include daughter-in-law and son-in-law, and also adopted and/or stepchildren.

(ii) Definition of ‘maintenance’ and ‘welfare’ has been expanded. Definition of maintenance beyond merely the provision of food, clothing, housing, and healthcare, and to include “safety and security” of the parent.

(iii) Mode of submission of application for maintenance has been enlarged.

(iv) Ceiling of Rs 10,000/- as maintenance amount has been removed.

(v) Preference to dispose of applications of senior citizens, above eighty years of age, early has been included.

(vi) Registration of Senior Citizens Care Homes/Homecare Service Agencies etc. have been included.

(vii) Minimum standards for senior citizen care homes has been included in the Bill.

(viii) Appointment of Nodal Police Officers for Senior Citizens in every Police Station and District level Special Police Unit for Senior Citizens has been included.

(ix) Maintenance of Helpline for senior citizens has been included.”


One request please wait for final bill after its passed ion parliament.

PLEASE SPREAD THE RIGHT MESSAGE

Thanks.

Sailesh Mishra

Missing Senior Citizens - NCRB Report 2017

Shocking Report of Missing Senior Citizens by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2017, released in Oct 2019 . 

There has been growing incident of Senior Citizens Missing in last many years, Seniors either leave their home on their own, they get lost in crowded or unfamiliar places or get lost due to Dementia /  Alzheimer - in this case they forget / unable to recall their names, relatives, address etc.

Its extremely difficult to trace Missing Senior Citizens due to lack of proper tracking system and also due to apathy from all stakeholders. 

Organisation like Silver Innings - through their Facebook page and Blog 'Missing Senior Citizens Alert' and 'WhatsApp group' and HelpAge India are doing remarkable work in Finding Missing Senior Citizens, government effort is very less, government effort in missing children and women is more. 

National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2017 Missing report as per TABLE 15.3, Missing and Traced Persons (Gender & Age-wise) - 2017, highlights the concern.

It is found that Male Senior Citizens are more in numbers in list of getting Missing then Female Senior Citizens, but tracing Female Senior Citizens percentage is higher then Male.  

We need to protect our Elders getting lost and also need to device national tracking program. Families also need to take extra care and Police needs to be sensitized. 

Following are details of above report by Government agency - NCRB 2017.

Total Senior Citizens Missing (60plus) 
Un recovered Persons of Previous years - 20272
Persons Missing during 2017 - 12805
Total Missing -  33077

Persons Traced : 
from Previous years Missing -  6392
from Missing Persons - 2017 - 7028
Total Traced -  13420
% of Persons Traced - 40.6


Person Untraced : 
from Previous years Missing - 13880
from Missing Persons - 2017 - 5777
Total unTraced  - 19657
% of Persons unTraced - 59.4




60 Yrs & Above - (Male Sr. Citizen) 
Un recovered Persons of Previous years - 13,893
Persons Missing during 2017 - 8802
Total Missing - 22,695 

Male Senior Citizen Traced: 
from Previous years Missing - 4302
from Missing Persons - 2017 - 4689
Total Traced - 8991 
% of Persons Traced - 39.6

Male Senior Citizen Untraced 
from Previous years Missing - 9591
from Missing Persons - 2017 - 4113
Total unTraced  - 13704
% of Persons unTraced - 60.4




60 Yrs & Above (Female Sr. Citizen)

Un recovered Persons of Previous years - 6379
Persons Missing during 2017 - 3985
Total Missing -  10364

Female Senior Citizen Traced: 
from Previous years Missing - 2090
from Missing Persons - 2017 - 2326
Total Traced -  4416
% of Persons Traced - 42.6


Female Senior Citizen Untraced :
from Previous years Missing - 4289
from Missing Persons - 2017 - 1659
Total unTraced  - 5948
% of Persons unTraced - 57.4



This Report is made by SILVER INNING FOUNDATION - 26th Oct 2019

Budget 2019: Senior Citizens expectation

The citizens, who have crossed the age of 60 years are described variously as ‘senior citizens’, ‘elderly’ and ‘aged’. The population of this segment has increased steadily since 1950. The Census of India 2001 enumerated approximately 7.6 crore senior citizens in India, which has increased to 10.4 crore in 2011. As per the report of UNFPA , this number is expected to grow to 17.3 crore by 2025 and about 24 crore by 2050.

The population share of senior citizens will increase from 8 percent in 2015 to 19 percent in 2050 and it is expected that by the end of the century, senior citizens will constitute nearly 34 percent of the total population of the country. This ageing phenomenon is all set to replace the ‘youth bulge’ that India is currently experiencing with an ‘aging society’.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) 2017 observed that “the relatively young India of today will turn into a rapidly ageing society in coming decades.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi says "Today, if we are able to work so rapidly to create a new India, it is because of the foundation our senior citizens laid. The value and wisdom of our senior citizens
are important for us. We have given top most focus for dignity, financial security and well-being of our senior citizens". 


Our Senior Citizens have expectation for our current NAMO 2.0 / NDA Government, we have this June 2019 government will accept our following demand:  


Exempt 18% GST on Residential or Non Residential Elder and Disable Care Service : 18% GST for Elder CARE services & accommodation under heading no. 9993, GST Service Code 99932, GST code 999321, GST service no. 999322. In old age and for person with disability; health care, shelter and related services are great support not only for the person but also for the families. Request to please HELP 105 million Senior Citizens and their families by exempting on above GST.

Increase Full Tax rebate for all Senior Citizens upto Rs. 8 Lakh and for 80plus upto Rs. 10 lakh

Increase Interest rates on 'Senior Citizens Savings Scheme 2004'

Increase NSAP Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) from Rs. 200/- to Rs. 3000/- for all BPL Senior Citizens

Start Universal Pension of Rs. 3000/- for all 80 plus

NO TDS for Senior citizens for earning upto Rs. 10 Lakh.

Comprehensive dedicated Health Insurance : 
The cost of the health care during old age appears to be very high and this in turn increases the out of pocket expenditure on health care particularly when private facilities are availed of. When older persons are economically dependent, increasing health expenditure adds to the economic burden on the family. Request to have dedicated Health Insurance for all 60 plus and tax subsidy increase for children who are looking after their sick old parents or grandparents.

Increase in IT Deduction for medical expenditure: 
As there high rise in medical and heath care cost in old age, we request Increase the limit of deduction for medical expenditure in respect of certain critical illness to 3 lakh in respect of all senior citizens, under section 80DDB.

Senior Citizens Welfare Fund : In pursuance of the announcement made in the Budget Speech of Finance Minister – 2015-16, a Senior Citizens' Welfare Fund was established in March 2016. The fund consists of the unclaimed amounts transferred by government institutions holding such
funds. We need government input on this, what has happened to this fund and where its being utilized and from where resources are being sourced.

Introduce mandatory 10% spending for companies, exclusive for 60plus welfare for all CSR program

Give 10 year Tax Holiday for all Startup new or existing working exclusive for Senior Citizens

Give Tax rebate to children who are looking after their depended 60 plus parents

Sailesh Mishra

Founder President - Silver Innings Group 

http://silverinnings.in/ 

Review: Congress Party Senior Citizens Manifesto 2019

Good news, great advocacy, Indian National Congress has included #SeniorCitizens in their #LoksabhaElections2019 Manifesto, its first party to do so, we will be happy to see BJP and other Parties to follow it.


Indian National Congress Manifesto for Senior Citizens : 5 key Points (page 43).  

Congress acknowledges that about 9 per cent of the population of India is over the age of 60 years and this proportion will increase.

Congress promises to review current policies on senior citizens and make suitable changes, taking into account advances in medical science and technology.

1) Under the Right to Healthcare Act, we will provide affordable and quality healthcare to senior citizens in hospitals including free diagnostics, out-patient treatment, medicines and hospital treatment. Geriatric wards with sufficient beds will be opened in every district-level hospital.

2) We will introduce well-designed pension and health insurance schemes that will guarantee insured persons a life of dignity and comfort when they become senior citizens.

3) Senior citizens can contribute to the development of the communities in which they live. We will create opportunities for senior citizens to do so.

4) We will take measures to ensure easy access to legal services and recourse to senior citizens especially in cases of neglect, abuse, abandonment, eviction and financial fraud.

5) Congress promises to enforce strictly the provisions of the Maintenance and Welfare of Senior Citizens Act, 2017

See full document:  https://cdn.inc.in/manifestos/pdf_documents/000/000/005/original/English_Manifesto_MobilePDF_1April19-1.pdf?1554201123

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Our Silver innings take:

There is lots to do more....
It's good that Congress party is first political party which has given detailed agenda for Senior Citizens.

Good thing is they have stress upon Senior citizens,Participation and Experience utilization in the local community.

But it's very General agenda. 

They failed to mention National Policy of Senior Citizens. And regarding point no. 5 ... The amendment bill is already pending in Parliament.

Senior citizens will get Justice only if following can be done:

National Policy of Senior Citizens is implemented

Constitution of National Commission of Senior Citizens

Minimum 3000/- pension to poor Seniors

Free Health care and Health insurance to all Seniors

Exemption of 18% GST for Elder care

National Dementia Strategy




Sailesh Mishra
Founder
Silver Innings

Tata Trusts REPORT ON OLD AGE FACILITIES IN INDIA 2018

Don't miss this Eye Opener: Tata Trusts REPORT ON OLD AGE FACILITIES IN INDIA : INDIA has ONLY around 1,150 facilities FOR around 97,000 elderly: This is what we at #Silverinnings  have been saying all this while of lack of facilities and services for Senior Citizens in India.

The study looked at both old age homes and senior living developments in India, built an extensive sample set of 480+ old age homes and 60+ senior living developments in 84 cities, towns and districts cutting across geographies, size, cost, facilities offered, ownership and management.

It projected the sample set to countrywide population data extracted from 2011 census of India, and arrived at an estimate of around 1,150 facilities and the capacity to house around 97,000 elderly residents.

Forecasting likely demand driven by increasing elderly population and change in preferences owing to availability of new products and socio-economic norms, the study pointed towards a crying need to enhance the capacity almost eight to ten-fold over the next decade.

http://tatatrusts.org/upload/pdf/report-on-old-age-facilities-in-india.pdf