50% of State’s elderly
resort to work out of compulsion
resort to work out of compulsion
Bhubaneswar, Sep 2: Dueto very poor utilization of three national social security schemes- Indira
Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), Indira Gandhi National Widow
Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) and Annapurna Scheme, around 50 per cent elderly
continue to work in their old age due economic compulsion in State, revealed a
report ‘Status of elderly in Odisha’ prepared by the United Nations Population
Fund (UNFPA) on Tuesday.
The report which was
prepared by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and unveiled by Women and
Child Development and Planning and Coordination Minister Usha Devi here
revealed that the utilization of IGNWPS is the highest at 50 per cent, followed
by 22 per cent for IGNOAPS and less than 1 per cent for Annapurna Scheme,
although awareness about these schemes is high.
prepared by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and unveiled by Women and
Child Development and Planning and Coordination Minister Usha Devi here
revealed that the utilization of IGNWPS is the highest at 50 per cent, followed
by 22 per cent for IGNOAPS and less than 1 per cent for Annapurna Scheme,
although awareness about these schemes is high.
The report revealed
that Odisha has 3.98 million elderly persons aged 60 years and above,
constituting 9.5 per cent of the total population against a national average of
8.5 per cent and 50 per cent elderly continue to work in their old age due
economic compulsion.
that Odisha has 3.98 million elderly persons aged 60 years and above,
constituting 9.5 per cent of the total population against a national average of
8.5 per cent and 50 per cent elderly continue to work in their old age due
economic compulsion.
The UNFPA report, the
first of its kind for the elderly, revealed that utilisation of IGNWPS is the
highest at 50 per cent, followed by 22 per cent for IGNOAPS and less than 1 per
cent for Annapurna Scheme, although awareness about these schemes is high.
first of its kind for the elderly, revealed that utilisation of IGNWPS is the
highest at 50 per cent, followed by 22 per cent for IGNOAPS and less than 1 per
cent for Annapurna Scheme, although awareness about these schemes is high.
While the elderly are
aware of other plans and schemes like Madhu Babu Pension Yojana, programme for
care of older persons, national family benefit scheme, day care centres and
emergency feeding, their implementation has been less than satisfactory, it
added.
aware of other plans and schemes like Madhu Babu Pension Yojana, programme for
care of older persons, national family benefit scheme, day care centres and
emergency feeding, their implementation has been less than satisfactory, it
added.
The report was prepared
after 1,481 elderly including 742 men and 739 women were interviewed on
different aspects of their livelihood covering. Apart from Odisha other States
covered under the survey include Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Punjab,
Himachal Pradesh and West Bengal.
after 1,481 elderly including 742 men and 739 women were interviewed on
different aspects of their livelihood covering. Apart from Odisha other States
covered under the survey include Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Punjab,
Himachal Pradesh and West Bengal.
The report predicted
that the elderly population will increase to 6.27 million by 2016 and will comprise
of 13.8 per cent of the total population.
that the elderly population will increase to 6.27 million by 2016 and will comprise
of 13.8 per cent of the total population.
Observing that ageing
is a silent revolution and many countries including India are not yet prepared
for the demographic shift, UNFPA Representative for India and Bhutan Frederika
Meijer suggested that policy and programme interventions should consider
various dimensions of vulnerability which are being faced by the elderly in the
State.
is a silent revolution and many countries including India are not yet prepared
for the demographic shift, UNFPA Representative for India and Bhutan Frederika
Meijer suggested that policy and programme interventions should consider
various dimensions of vulnerability which are being faced by the elderly in the
State.
The W&CD Minister
assured that all efforts would be made taking all stakeholders to ensure a
conducive atmosphere for elderly people in every respect.
assured that all efforts would be made taking all stakeholders to ensure a
conducive atmosphere for elderly people in every respect.
Health Department
Special Secretary Nalinikanta Das said 10-bed physiotherapy units for elderly
people would be opened at all the District Headquarters Hospitals soon.
Special Secretary Nalinikanta Das said 10-bed physiotherapy units for elderly
people would be opened at all the District Headquarters Hospitals soon.
The report stated that
10 per cent of the elderly experience abuse which is higher among elderly women
and it is sad to note that most of the abuse is inflicted by family members,
particularly sons.
10 per cent of the elderly experience abuse which is higher among elderly women
and it is sad to note that most of the abuse is inflicted by family members,
particularly sons.
With regard to their
health status, 50 per cent elderly is suffering from chronic morbidity, highest
being arthritis followed by hypertension, while diabetes and heart ailments are
more common among the urban elderly.
health status, 50 per cent elderly is suffering from chronic morbidity, highest
being arthritis followed by hypertension, while diabetes and heart ailments are
more common among the urban elderly.