Recent trends in Geriatrics and Gerontological Studies - State Level Conference

A study on different Government Benefits to Senior Citizens and their inadequacy

Sri Debdulal Chatterjee, Department of Commerce, Netaji Nagar Day College

Abstract There are so many works and researches having been done by different researchers on gerontological studies, but no one suggested and proposed regarding the different benefits to the senior citizens of our society on their mediclaim / medicare. In this paper the discussion is made on different benefits given to senior citizens regarding mediclaim and medicare and also:-

• Summary of benefits given to senior citizen by different ministries and department.
• National Policy for older person.
• New Mediclaim policy for senior citizens launched by insurance companies.
• Different Direct Tax Benefits.
• Reverse Mortgage to be launched by National Housing Bank

IntroductionThe three main requirements of elderly people today are social, health and financial security. At present in our society the family means a nucleus form which is the effect of urbanization and socio-economic condition. As an effect of the above situation the elderly people are forced to leave alone which creates the loneliness and also economic problems. They are not at all conscious about the different policies taken by the Central and State Government in respect to senior citizens to provide basic benefits like health care, food, housing and insurance etc.

In India, traditionally, we had a strong and sound joint family set up. The elderly man in the family was considered a part of the family. Not only did he receive respect from other members, but also he exercised authority on the affairs of the entire family. Thus the family felt it was its responsibility and obligation to look after him. In the recent past, the joint family system got disintegrated and the elderly person was left to take care of himself on his own. Thus he had to face various hardships while spending the evenings of his life. Young people now see senior citizens as a burden. The respect they once enjoyed in the joint family is slowly disappearing. Many suffer mental and physical abuse. In Mumbai, a man and his wife locked their house before they left it turning the 68-year old mother out of the home with food and water for the day. She was let in only when they returned from work in the evening. This was allegedly in her “own interest” as stated by them. She was absent-minded and they feared she could even forget to switch off the gas. Ironically, the old lady was the owner of the property. Her neighbors complained to the police who intervened later.

Demographic ageing is a global phenomenon. India is still poised to become home to the second largest number of older persons in the world. Projection studies indicate that the number of 60+ in India will increase to 100 million in 2013 and to 198 million in 2030. The special features of the elderly population in India are:-

• A majority (80%) of them are in the rural areas, thus making service delivery a challenge,
• Feminization of the elderly population (51% of the elderly population would be women by the year 2016).
• Increase in the number of the older-old (persons above 80 years) and
• Large percentages (30%) of the elderly are below poverty line.

International comparison of average annual increase rates (%) of elderly populations

“We did not even have a policy for senior citizens till 1999. Since we have a tradition of joint families and caring at home for our senior citizens, this was not really a major concern till migration of adult children started from villages in the big cities and children started going abroad for studies and work…” Only government servants are entitled to pension. This means that literally 70 percent of the Indian population gets no pension – not even those who have worked in the corporate sector for 30 to 40 years. Most senior citizens are dependent on their savings or their provident fund and gratuity, whose value is shrinking by the day. The interest rates on bank deposits have shrunk from 12 percent to six percent. So the money available after retirement is further reduces because of the poor return from investments.

Medical care is a big problem. With increasing cost of living, they are uncertain about their future and that of their children. Though mediclaim facilities have been available for some years now, the premium for those over 55 is high. In fact, they expect for the Defence Forces, there is no health care support system for the aged.