PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said that the State government has implemented the Parents and Senior Citizens Maintenance Act to protect the rights of senior citizens in Uttarakhand. He said that the senior citizens enrich and advance the family and society through their life experiences and the State government is committed to protect their rights and dignity. He was addressing a programme organised on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons at the Himalayan Cultural Centre, Dehradun on Thursday.
The CM said that the presence of elders in the family brings a sense of belonging and intimacy to the home.
Dhami said the old age homes in the State are being continuously strengthened. Currently, government old age homes operate in Bageshwar, Chamoli and Uttarkashi. The government is also constructing new old age homes in Dehradun, Almora and Champawat and old age homes are also being operated by non-governmental organizations in Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital districts.
“I believe that old age homes should not be necessary in society. Our seniors deserve to live with dignity among their families, not in old age homes. With the support of the central government, work is also being done for the welfare and overall development of senior citizens through the Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana,’’ he said.
The CM informed that the State government provides a monthly pension of Rs 1,500 to senior citizens. This includes separate pension benefits for both husband and wife. He added that a sum of Rs 147 crore is being provided as pension to over nine lakh senior citizens of the State.
The State government has also made arrangements for free travel for senior citizens through the Deendayal Matri-Pitru Tirtha Yatra Yojana. The senior citizens are guaranteed free treatment through the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.
In the programme the CM disbursed an amount of Rs 147.34 crore as pension for the month of September in the bank accounts of 9,93,886 elderly people through a single click.
Cabinet minister Khajan Dass, MLA Savita Kapoor and others attended the programme.
