The Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister, Punjab, Mrs. Razia Sultana today reiterated that the Punjab Government is fully committed to providing the benefits of various development schemes besides the rights to the old age people for which purpose the committees at District level have been constituted so as to ensure implementation of the Maintenance & Welfare Of Parents & Senior Citizen Act, 2007 in the state. The minister was here today chairing the meeting of state council (Raj Parishad) formed for the care and welfare of people with old age.The minister further said that the implementation of the schemes concerning the welfare of old age people apart from protection of their rights is the responsibility of the state government which is in the process of soon coming out with a special policy under which it would be ensured to provide pension to the old age people at fixed time. For this purpose, the Punjab Government has made a budgetary provision of Rs. 1158.67 crore for the 11,80,746 beneficiaries under the old age pension scheme this year.Divulging more, the minister said that it has come to the notice of the government that the old age people are often harassed by their family members or children over the matters concerning their property, and due rights.
The minister said that for getting such grievances redressed within 3 months under the Maintenance & Welfare Of Parents & Senior Citizen Act, 2007 , the old age people should depose before the district level committees but in most of such cases the decisions are not being taken within the fixed time frame and for this the directions have been given to the Deputy Commissioners of all the districts so as to ensure timely justice to old age people.Adding further the minister said that the police department has appointed for the welfare of old age people, IG rank officer as nodal officer at state level, DIG at range level and SP (D) at district level. Noting that the nodal officers are not holding meetings with the district level committees, the minister directed the police department to make sure that the district police chiefs hold at the regular intervals in order to resolve the issues concerned with the old age people as soon as possible.The minister also directed the separate maintenance of the record of issues related with the old age people.Detailing more, the minister disclosed that the Punjab Government has made recommendations to the Union Government for day care centres and providing grant worth Rs. 24,71,258 during the year 2017-2018 to the 5 NGOs working for the welfare of the old age people.On the occasion of the meeting, Special Chief Secretary Social Security Mr. K.B.S. Sidhu, Secretary (Home) Kumar Rahul, Director Social Security Mrs. Kavita Singh, Mrs. Veena Under Secretary from the Health Department, AIG Crime Mr. Manmohan Kumar, President Senior Citizen Federation Mr. Satpal Karkara (IAS Retd.), Mr. Surjit Singh (PCS Retd.) from Senior Citizen Welfare Council Hoshiarpur, Prof. M.H. Khan and Mr. Ashok Garg were also present.