Representative Image | Photo: Ajith Shankaran/ Mathrubhumi
Panoor: The initial report of the legislative committee recommended formation of a commission for senior citizens to coordinate the social security, welfare and health programmes of the elderly in the state. The committee asked the Kerala government to establish a commission in the model of the Youth Commission.
The report also suggested making a list of the destitute and impoverished senior citizens and include them in the Anganwadi Feeding Programme ensuring access to regular meals.
The committee comprising 9 MLAs urged the state government to demand reintroduction of travel concessions for senior citizens. The Railways should be asked to reserve some seats in the railway stations for the elderly.
It also recommended increasing the penalty for travelling in reserved seats of buses from Rs 100 to Rs 500. This has to be displayed in the buses.
Other proposals
- Expand operations of Vayomithram programme providing free medicines to senior citizens to all grama panchayats.
- Roll out systems such as Adalats for the fast track settlement of cases in connection with senior citizens.
- Registration should be mandatory for institutions and shelter homes of senior citizens.
- Issue guidelines which ensure special care for old age people in private hospitals.
- Start dialysis units in all taluk hospitals in the state.
- Activities of the Harsham project for the elderly care should be strengthened.
- Facilitate taluk, district and block level government hospitals with mental health care treatment for senior citizens at least once in a week.
- Conduct awareness campaigns in schools and colleges regarding the issues of the elderly people and educate solutions for it.
- Classes should be taken at panchayat level regarding the benefits conferred by the state and central governments to senior citizens.
- Launch separate old age pension for nuns above 60 years of age.
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