कथन

Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state: (a) the details of dedicated programmes being implemented for the welfare, social security and healthy ageing of senior citizens in the country; 10.03.2026 668 (b) the details of key schemes such as the Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens, Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY), Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), the provisions under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 along with the achievements made during the last three years in the country, district-wise in Himachal Pradesh; (c) whether the Government is expanding geriatric care facilities, including NPHCE units, geriatric OPDs, daycare centres and digital health services to ensure accessible, affordable elderly care, if so, the details thereof; (d) whether the Government in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Education is considering recognizing geriatric care, gerontology and elderly nursing as specialized educational or professional streams to meet rising demand for trained caregivers, if so, the details thereof; and (e) the steps taken to promote elder-friendly infrastructure, pensions, skill programmes and elderly helplines in the States? THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI B. L. VERMA): (a) and (e) The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing an umbrella scheme, namely, the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) for the welfare of senior citizens across the country. The details of the scheme are given in the enclosed Statement- I. 10.03.2026 669 The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in October 2024, expanded the Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to provide free health cover of Rs. 5 lakh per year to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is also implementing “National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly” (NPHCE) to address various health-related issues of the elderly persons. The details of NPHCE are given in the enclosed Statement-II. The Ministry of Rural Development implements the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) under which the financial assistance is given to the eligible senior citizens. The details of NSAP are given in the enclosed Statement-III. The Department of Financial Services is implementing the Atal Pension Yojana (APY). As per the scheme, subscribers (18–40 years of age) shall receive a monthly pension after attaining the age of 60 years, until their death, depending on the level of contribution chosen. The details of APY are given in the enclosed Statement-IV. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs have informed that ‘Land’ and ‘Colonization’ fall under Entry 18 of List-II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India and thus the subject falls within the legislative competence of the State Governments. However, in order to provide a uniform framework and facilitate the States/UTs, Model Guidelines for the Development and Regulation of Retirement Homes have been 10.03.2026 670 formulated and circulated by the Central Government. These guidelines are intended to serve as a guiding document for the States/UTs to incorporate suitable provisions in their respective legislations and regulations for safeguarding the rights and interests of senior citizens and retirees residing in these retirement homes. Further, the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA), enacted by Parliament, aims to promote transparency, accountability and efficiency in the real estate sector. The provisions of RERA are fully applicable to retirement homes, treating them at par with other real estate projects. This ensures protection of the interests of homebuyers, including senior citizens and other vulnerable residents, from violations or malpractices by the developers. Furthermore, RERA mandates strict compliance with applicable norms and local laws by real estate developers during the execution of such projects. (b) The achievements under the schemes of Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC) and Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY), which are components of the AVYAY Scheme, during the last three years in the country and district-wise in the State of Himachal Pradesh, are given in the enclosed Statement-V. As per Section 7 and 15 of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, the State Governments are mandated to constitute Maintenance Tribunals and Appellate Tribunals. The State-wise details of the maintenance applications and appeals received and disposed off in the States 10.03.2026 671 are not maintained centrally in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. (c) and (d) The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, under its National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE), provides geriatric healthcare services across all the States/UTs through Government healthcare facilities. Dedicated geriatric services under the programme have been progressively scaled up across the country. In addition, Regional Geriatric Centres (RGCs) have been sanctioned for tertiary care service delivery under NPHCE in the form of specialized OPDs and in-patient wards, including earmarked beds in various specialties such as urology, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, etc., along with manpower development and research activities. National Centres of Ageing (NCAs) have also been established and are functioning as Centres of Excellence for geriatric care services. The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing a scheme namely the System of Providing Elder Care (In-House) and Assisted Living (PM-SPECIAL), a component of AVYAY, with the objective to bridging the gap between supply and the increasing demand in the field of geriatric caregivers, so as to provide more professional services to senior citizens and also to create a cadre of professional caregivers in the field of geriatrics. A total of 35,480 geriatric caregivers have been trained so far under this scheme component. 10.03.2026 672 STATEMENT-I Details of components under Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) scheme are as follows- i. IPSrC (Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens)- Under IPSrC, grant- in-aid is provided to the organisations for maintenance of senior citizen homes (Sr.CH), continuous care homes (CCH), mobile medicare units (MMU) and physiotherapy clinics. The objective of the scheme is to improve the quality of life of the Senior Citizens, especially indigent senior citizens by providing basic amenities like shelter, food, medical care and entertainment opportunities and by encouraging productive and active ageing. The Department have also formulated minimum standards for Senior Citizen Homes which provides accessible infrastructure across all Senior Citizen Homes throughout the country ii. SAPSrC (State Action Plan for Senior Citizens)- The Government of India perceives a major and critical role of all the States/ UTs Governments in welfare of senior citizens. Each State/UT is expected to plan taking into account their local considerations and frame their own State Action Plans for the welfare of their senior citizens. Under SAPSrC, the Ministry releases funds to the States/UTs for implementation of their action plans. SAPSrC is being implemented since FY 2019-20. iii. RVY (Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana)- The scheme aims for providing Physical Aids and Assisted Living Devices for Senior Citizens below poverty 10.03.2026 673 line and with the family income not exceed to Rs. 15,000/-per month. The scheme is being implemented since 2017. iv. Elderline- The National Helpline for Sr Citizens (14567) is to generate awareness about the Act, schemes and programmes being executed by different Central and State Governments and to provide platform to redress grievances of Sr Citizens across the country. v. System of Providing Elder Care (In House) and Assisted Living (PM- SPECIAL) - The main objective is to bridge the gap in supply and increasing demand in the field of geriatric caregivers so as to provide more professional services to the senior citizens and also to create a cadre of professional care givers in the field of geriatrics. vi. Other Initiatives for Senior Citizens- In order to solve the problems of healthy and productive ageing, several initiatives are being done across the country. The proposed initiatives are aimed at involving the elders in building up knowledge which can be useful for the society as a whole. vii. Seniorcare Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE)- The main objective is to promote out-of-the-box and innovative solutions for the commonly faced problems, innovative start- ups would be identified and encouraged for developing products, processes and services for the welfare of the elderly. 10.03.2026 674 STATEMENT-II Details of National Programme for Healthcare of Elderly (NPHCE) The NPHCE is an articulation of the International and national commitments of the Government as envisaged under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), National Policy on Older Persons (NPOP) adopted by the Government of India in 1999 and Section 20 of “The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007” dealing with provisions for medical care of Senior Citizens The objective of NPHCE is to provide accessible, affordable, and high-quality long-term, comprehensive and dedicated healthcare services to the elderly. Components of the Program: 1. National Health Mission (NHM) Component: Primary and Secondary care service delivery through District Hospitals (DH), Community Health Centres (CHC), Primary Health Centres (PHC), Sub-Centre/Health and Wellness Centres. 2. Tertiary Component: (Rashtriya Varisth Jan Swasthya Yojana): These services are being provided though Regional Geriatric Centres (RGCs) located at 17 Medical colleges and two National Centres of Aging (NCAs) one in AIIMS, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi and another in Madras Medical College, Chennai. 3. Research: A Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) project:-The LASI is a nationally representative survey of older persons in India is being 10.03.2026 675 undertaken through International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai. Package of Services: The program has two components for provision of geriatric health care services i.e: district/ sub-district level component and tertiary level component. The package of services provided to elderly people at both levels is as given below. Sub Centre: a. Health Education related to healthy ageing, environmental modifications, nutritional requirements, life styles and behavioural changes. b. Special attention to home bound / bedridden elderly persons and provide training to the family health care providers in looking after the disabled elderly persons. Primary Health Centre: Weekly geriatric clinic by a trained Medical Officer (MO). Services would include: conducting health assessment of the elderly persons and simple investigation including blood sugar, etc. Community Health Centre a. Biweekly geriatric Clinic and Rehabilitation services to be arranged by trained staff and rehabilitation worker at CHCs. b. Domiciliary visits by the rehabilitation worker will be undertaken for bed- ridden elderly and counseling to family members for care such patients. District Hospitals: a. Dedicated Geriatric OPD services, In-door admissions through 10 bedded geriatric ward, laboratory investigations and rehabilitation services. 10.03.2026 676 b. Provide services for the elderly patients referred by the CHCs/PHCs etc. and refer severe cases to tertiary level hospitals. Tertiary Level (A) Regional Geriatric Centers: a. Provide tertiary level services for complicated/serious Geriatric Cases referred from Medical Colleges, District Hospitals and below. b. Conduct post graduate courses in Geriatric Medicine. Each RGC to produce 2 post graduates (MD geriatrics) every year. c. Providing training to the trainers of identified District hospitals and medical colleges d. Developing/and updating Training modules, guidelines and IEC materials. e. Research on specific elderly diseases. (B) National Center of Ageing a. High level tertiary care with multidisciplinary clinical services involving medical and surgical disciplines. b. Specialised OPD care in various clinical disciplines. Special clinics like memory clinic, fall and syncope clinic, frail elderly clinic, aids and appliances clinic, implants and cosmetic clinic. c. Day care centre for Investigations, rehabilitation, respite care, dementia care ,continence care d. In patient care for: Intensive care, acute rehabilitation, diagnostic and therapeutic services, long term rehabilitation service. 10.03.2026 677 e. Human resources development in all sub-specialties of Geriatric Medicine f. Developing evidence based treatment protocols for Geriatric diseases prevalent in the country. STATEMENT-III Details of National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) Under the NSAP programme, the old aged, widows, and disabled persons belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) and fulfilling eligibility criteria prescribed in the NSAP guidelines, are provided financial assistance, in form of pension, ranging from Rs.200/- to Rs.500/- p.m. and in the case of death of the breadwinner of such family, lump sum assistance of Rs. 20,000/- is given to the bereaved family. One of the components under the scheme is Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme under which assistance of ₹ 200/- per month to persons in the age group of 60-79 years is provided and ₹ 500/- per month to persons of 80 years and above is provided. STATEMENT-IV Details of Atal Pension Yojana (APY) The Department of Financial Services is implementing the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) which was launched on 09.05.2015 with the objective of creating a universal social security system for all Indians, especially the poor, the under- privileged and the workers in the unorganized sector. It is open to 10.03.2026 678 all citizens of India between 18-40 years of age having a savings bank account in a bank or post-office. For better targeting of guaranteed pension to unorganized sector workers, an income tax payer shall not be eligible to join APY from 01.10.2022. The subscriber under APY is required to make a monthly/quarterly/six monthly contribution of an amount determined by the amount of pension chosen and the age of joining the scheme. The subscriber shall receive a government guaranteed minimum pension of Rs. 1000 per month, Rs. 2000 per month, Rs. 3000 per month, Rs. 4000 per month or Rs. 5000 per month, after the age of 60 years until death, depending on the contribution chosen. The spouse of the subscriber shall be entitled to receive the same pension amount as that of the subscriber after the death of the subscriber. After the death of both subscriber and the spouse, the nominee of the subscriber shall be entitled to receive the pension wealth, as accumulated till age 60 of the subscriber. As per the scheme, subscriber will receive pension benefit on attaining the age of 60 years. STATEMENT-V (I) IPSrC: The details of funds released(country-wise) and number of beneficiaries served under the IPSrC during the last three years in the country are as under : Financial Year Fund Released (Rs. in crore) Number of Beneficiaries 2022-23 72.31 87745 10.03.2026 679 2023-24 118.95 157820 2024-25 125.42 152430 The details of funds released(district-wise) and the beneficiaries served under the IPSrC during the last three years in the State of Himachal Pradesh are as under - Financial Year Shimla Bilaspur Funds released (Rs. in crore) No. of Beneficiaries Funds released (Rs. in crore) No. of Beneficiaries 2022-23 0.20 25 0.028 25 2023-24 0.22 25 0.046 25 2024-25 0.18 25 0.16 25 (II) RVY: A total of 3,14,777 beneficiaries have been served and appliances for an amount of Rs. 272.71 crore have been distributed during the last three years under RVY across the country. A total of 1655 beneficiaries have been served under the RVY in the State of Himachal Pradesh. District Wise details of the beneficiaries served during the last three years are as under: S.No. Name of the District Number of beneficiaries 1 Bilaspur 160 2 Chamba 35 3 Hamirpur 0 4 Kangra 20 5 Kinnaur 0 6 Kullu 0 10.03.2026 680 7 Lahul and Spiti 0 8 Mandi 1420 9 Shimla 4 10 Sirmaur 0 11 Solan 7 12 Una 9 WORKS SANCTIONED UNDER PMGSY 2886. SHRI KARTICK CHANDRA PAUL: Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a) the details of works sanctioned, completed and ongoing under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in Uttar Dinajpur district, West Bengal, during the last five years, year-wise; (b) the total length of rural roads constructed, upgraded, funds allocated, released and utilized under PMGSY in the above district during the said period, year-wise; (c) the number of habitations targeted for connectivity and the actual number connected so far in the above district under PMGSY-I, II and III; (d) whether any delays, cost escalations, contractor defaults and quality issues have been reported in the said district, if so, the details thereof; (e) the details of maintenance contracts awarded for PMGSY roads in the district and the monitoring mechanism in place to ensure quality and durability; and 10.03.2026 681 (f) the steps taken by the Government to expedite completion of pending projects and ensure full rural connectivity in Uttar Dinajpur district? THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN): (a) "Rural road" is a State subject. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is being implemented by the Government of India since the year 2000 as a one-time special intervention to provide rural connectivity, by way of a single all-weather road, to the eligible unconnected habitations of the designated population as laid out in the program guidelines. The details of projects sanctioned, completed, and balance works at the end of the financial year under PMGSY in Uttar Dinajpur District of West Bengal, during the last five years are as follows:- Financial Year Sanctioned *Completed @Balance projects at the end of the respective financial year No. of road works Road Length (in Km) Bridges No. of road works Road Length (in Km) Bridges No. of road works Road Length (in km) Bridges 2021-22 0 0 0 9 14 2 8 5 2 2022-23 8 39 0 6 1 2 10 42 0 2023-24 0 0 0 3 17 0 7 23 0 2024-25 14 120 0 3 8 0 18 134 0 2025-26 (Up to 05.03.2026) 0 0 0 4 67 0 13 68 0 Note:- * The scheme has been ongoing since the year 2000, hence, works recorded under completed roads includes earlier sanction works that were completed in later 10.03.2026 682 years. @The Balance road length may also vary as it is cumulative figures recorded at end of the respective financial year. (b)The details of projects completed under various verticals of PMGSY and upgraded/consolidated under PMGSY-II and III in Uttar Dinajpur District of West Bengal, during the previous Financial Years are as under:- Financial Year Completed works under PMGSY Upgraded/ consolidated under PMGSY-II and III No. of road works Road Length (in Km) Bridges No. of road works Road Length (in Km) Bridges 2021-22 9 14 2 4 10 0 2022-23 6 1 2 3 1 0 2023-24 3 17 0 1 17 0 2024-25 3 8 0 3 8 0 2025-26 (Up to 05.03.2026) 4 67 0 4 67 0 Under PMGSY, funds are released to the State as a unit and it is State responsibility to distribute funds to districts. Details of Central funds released to State and expenditure incurred under PMGSY projects during last five years are as under: Financial Year Central funds released (Rs. in Crore) Total funds utilized under PMGSY (including State share) (Rs. in crore) 2021-22 49.94 702.81 2022-23 381.03 392.48 2023-24 99.275 312.40 2024-25 225.0 274.26 2025-26 (Up to 05.03.2026) 400.0 741.66 10.03.2026 683 (c) All 638 targeted habitations under PMGSY-I in Utttar Dinajpur District have been provided connectivity. PMGSY-II and III are for upgradation/consolidation works their details are given in point (b) above. (d) As per programme guidelines, the responsibility of, inter-alia, tendering and award of works, execution of rural road projects and maintenance of road works under PMGSY is the responsibility of the State Government concerned. No cost escalation or contractor defaults issues have been reported in Utttar Dinajpur District. With respect to quality, out of 51 packages inspected by National Quality Monitors (NQMs) during last five years, 45 packages have been graded as “Satisfactory”, while 6 packages were graded as “Unsatisfactory.” All the works graded as “Unsatisfactory” have since been complied with, and the compliance reports with “Satisfactory” grading have been uploaded on OMMAS (MIS for PMGSY). (e) As per PMGSY guidelines, ensuring the quality of road works is the responsibility of the State Governments who are implementing the programme. To ensure the quality and durability of PMGSY roads, a three-tier Quality Management mechanism has been put in place under PMGSY:  The 1st tier of quality management mechanism is the in-house quality control system of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU).  The 2nd tier of the quality management mechanism is through periodical inspections of all works by the State Quality monitors (SQMs), independent of PIUs. 10.03.2026 684  Under the 3rd tier, National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency deploys National Quality Monitors (NQMs), for inspection of road works, selected at random, to assess the general quality in the District/ State. Further, as per programme guidelines, maintenance of roads constructed under the programme is the responsibility of the State governments. All road works sanctioned under the scheme are covered by initial five year maintenance contracts to be entered into along with the construction contract, with the same contractor, as per the Standard Bidding Document. Maintenance funds are to be provided by the States/ UTs. Even after 5 years, the roads are to be maintained by the States/UTs. Ministry has implemented Electronic Maintenance of Rural Roads under PMGSY (e- MARG) in all States/UTs to enhance focus on maintenance of roads constructed under PMGSY and also to streamline the delivery of routine maintenance of PMGSY roads. (f) As per PMGSY programme guidelines, execution of PMGSY projects is the responsibility of the State Government within the timeline of the scheme. However, the Ministry of Rural Development has taken a number of initiatives to expedite completion of road works sanctioned under PMGSY, some of which are given below:- i. Programme is regularly monitored by way of Regional Review Meetings (RRMs), Performance Review Committee (PRC) Meetings, Monthly Review Meetings and Pre-Empowered/Empowered Committee Meetings with the States. 10.03.2026 685 ii. The State Governments are also regularly advised to convene meetings with the concerned authorities to expedite matters relating to land issues, forest clearances etc., to expedite completion of works. iii. States have been requested to augment execution capacity and contracting capacity, and their compliance in this regard is regularly reviewed. iv. Training is imparted to field engineers and contractors, as well as their staff, for capacity building. v. The Ministry has also conducted a number of Contractor’s Outreach Programmes in the States to attract contractors in the implementation of PMGSY projects. INDUSTRY–ACADEMIA COLLABORATION IN AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITIES 2887. SHRI B. K. PARTHASARATHI:

वक्ता Anurag Singh Thakur

कब कहा 2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z

किस वाद-विवाद में Ruling regarding Notices of Adjournment Motion