Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): It is almost after a gap of 25 years that social justice department is going to come up with its new policy for senior citizens. It was in the year 1999 that the department had prepared the policy for senior citizens. Since then, no new policy was issued for the elderly. Sources in the social justice department said that preparation of new policy is in the initial stage.
More importantly, the department is waiting for the announcement of the centre’s policy for senior citizens and the department will issue its own policy after this. ‘We want to include some good things of the centre’s policy in our policy. Along with this, we will also absorb the good practices of our last policy as well,’ senior officer of Social Justice Department said.
Another officer of the Social Justice Department told Free Press that in the run up to policy preparation, some meetings have already been done with the stakeholders and more will be followed.
The work of preparing the policy for senior citizens has been given to Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis. ‘The policy will cover all aspects of senior citizens including their healthcare, security and other basic needs,’ the officer said. Modern challenges faced by the elderly would also be considered while preparing the policy.
Bidding date for old age home extended
The social justice department had constructed a 56-bed paid Old Age Home in Patrakar Colony area of Bhopal. For its operation, it had invited bids but only one agency participated in the bidding. Seeing this, the department has extended the bidding date by fifteen days so that more agencies can participate in the process.
The lowest bidder will be selected and awarded the contract to run the Paid Old Age Home which has been constructed with an estimated cost of Rs 23 crore. It is the first of its kind where the elderly would get the luxury of every type including television set in their room, physiotherapy etc. The campus of the Paid Old Age Home will also have many other kind of facilities.
