Govt launches policy for setting up old-age homes with modern facilities

Pradeep Sharma

Chandigarh, March 2

The state government has unveiled a policy for setting up and managing state-of-the-art old-age homes with the aim of providing secure and comfortable living space to senior citizens to ensure their physical and emotional well-being.

‘Pay & stay’ also available

• Senior citizens having annual income above Rs 2 lakh will be able to avail the “pay & stay” facility at old-age homes
• Those above 80 years, persons having annual family income of up to Rs 1.80 lakh and women to get preference in admission to old-age homes
• Senior citizens to get food having 1,700 calories daily
• Rs 1,000 per month to be paid to every resident for routine expenses

To be set up under the newly notified Samarth Vriddh SEWA Ashram Scheme, 2024, the old-age homes would have senior citizen-friendly amenities, including medical facilities, physical aids and assisted living devices, recreation facilities, spacious rooms/dormitories, security and adequate staff for their well-being.

A highlight will be the provision of food stuff containing average 1,700 calories per day, besides 50 gm protein to the residents. A provision of Rs 2,500 per month for food for every resident has been made in the policy. There is also a provision of Rs 1,000 every month to every resident for meeting daily expenses.

Under the new scheme, notified by the Social Justice, Empowerment, Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Class and Antyodaya (SEWA) Department, the old-age homes would be run both by the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

While the government agencies would run old-age homes with financial support from the government, the NGOs would be given a “maintenance grant” of Rs 6,500 per inmate per month.

On the admission criteria, the policy said the prospective residents would be selected by giving preference to the senior citizens above 80 years of age and indigent senior citizens whose family income was less than 1.80 lakh per annum. Female senior citizens would get preference over their male counterparts.

Meanwhile, facility of “pay & stay” would also available for senior citizens having annual income of 2 lakh and above.