10.38 Cr Senior Citizens in India: Census 2011

As per census 2011, the population of Senior Citizens in the country is 10.38 crores. However, no authentic data is available with the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment on the number of destitute among them.

This Ministry is implementing the Scheme of Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP) under which financial assistance is provided to Panchayati Raj Institutions/local bodies, Non Governmental Organisations, Institutions or organisations set up by the government as autonomous/subordinate bodies etc. and in exceptional cases to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations, including inter-alia for running and maintenance of Old Age homes, Day Care Centres, Mobile Medicare Units etc. Under this Scheme this Ministry is providing financial assistance to Non Governmental Organisations for running/maintaining 154 Old Age Homes spread in states all over the country.

Besides, Section 19 of the Maintenance & Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 provide that the State Government may establish and maintain such number of old age homes at accessible places, as it may deem necessary, in a phased manner, beginning with at least one in each district to accommodate in such homes a minimum of one hundred fifty senior citizens who are indigent.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Vijay Sampla in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha here today.