Funds crunch paralyses plan for elderly

The provisions of the Act provide a security cover to elderly persons through a large number of schemes and measures which are to be taken by the state government.

The schemes for implementation of the Act will see the Centre and the state sharing the costs by half. But according to official information,Uttar Pradesh has expressed its inability to provide its share of Rs 140 crore,citing paucity of funds,and has asked the Centre to pay the full amount.

The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act (2007) was introduced by the Central government in 2008.

The Act allows maintenance to parents and grandparents in case their children refuse to take care of them. Under the Act,each state will be constituting a maintenance tribunal and a appellate tribunal,apart from appointing a maintenance officer in each district. The tribunal will have judicial powers and will handle cases where elderly persons can demand maintenance from their children after making an appeal.

Apart from the tribunals,the state will also establish old age homes,at least one in each district with a capacity of 150 people,to provide them with residential support.

The state will also provide free medical support for senior citizens which include providing beds for all senior citizens at fully or partially funded hospitals,separate queues be arranged for senior citizens,facility for treatment of chronic,terminal and degenerative diseases and earmarked facilities for geriatric patients in every district hospital duly headed by a medical officer with experience in geriatric care.

A senior state government official said: “We have found that the total expense for implementation of the Act is Rs 280 crore and UP will have to give half of it. Appointing of maintenance officers and setting up of tribunals itself will take up some 35 per cent of the expenses,the rest will be used for providing services like medical vouchers and establishment and maintenance of old age homes.”

The Centre has agreed to give its share only in case the state government gives its matching grant. In October 2010,the state expressed its inability to give its share and asked the Centre to provide 100 per cent.

The Principal Secretary (Social Welfare) Balvinder Kumar,said: “It is a good Act and we have planned many schemes which will benefit senior citizens. But we are unable to give our share at the moment and hence we have written to the Centre for giving us the total amount.” The Centre has not yet agreed to the state’s demand.