The Hindu : Rs. 18.94 cr. for welfare of aged

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 26, 2003

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Rs. 18.94 cr. for welfare of aged

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI APRIL 25. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has allocated Rs. 18.94 crores for the welfare of older persons during the current financial year.

The Ministry is running two welfare schemes for aged persons. The first is an Integrated Programme for older persons and the second an assistance to the Panchayati Raj Institutions, voluntary organisations, self-help groups for construction of old-age homes and multi-service centres for older persons.

As much as Rs. 17.8 crores has been earmarked for the Integrated Programme for Older Persons, which aims at empowering and improving their quality of life. Under this scheme, the Ministry provides NGOs 90 per cent of their financial requirement through grant-in-aid or assistance for the maintenance of old-age homes, day-care centres, mobile medicare units and non-institutional service centres for the older persons. The remaining 10 per cent of the financial burden has to be met by the NGOs.

At present as many as 527 NGOs are running 331 old-age homes, 436 day-care centres, 74 mobile medicare units and two non-institutional service centres all over the country.

A separate amount of Rs.1.14 crores has been allocated for providing assistance to the Panchayati Raj institutions, voluntary organisations and self-help groups for construction of old-age homes and multi-service centres.

Only those NGOs, whose proposals are recommended by the State Governments/Union Territories, are eligible for financial assistance

With better medical care and improved nutrition, life expectancy has improved in the country.

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