Meeting demographic change:
Working towards social inclusion of all
V. Jegarasasingam
Continued from yesterday
The Social Services and Social Welfare Ministry initiated 'Care
Givers' for Elders program in 2007 with the aim to provide care givers
for elders so that the children could be able to deploy trained care
givers to look after their parents.
In the second stage of this program, 82 volunteers from both male and
female aged between 25-45 and educated up to O/L were selected from
Thimbirigasyaya, Maharagama, Rathmalana, Moratuwa, Kolonnawa, Dehiwala,
Piliyandala, Wattala and Malabe divisions.
Income generation for elders. File photo |
Rs. 500 for eight hour a day and Rs. 600 for eight hours during the
night time. Rs. 50 is charged for an additional hour.
Instructions have been issued to the Provincial Directors to conduct
the caregiver's training program at provincial level.
Action has been taken to prepare a pension scheme under the Sri Lanka
Social Security Board for the Elders above the age of 70. As a first
step, the Social Services, and Social Welfare Ministry has obtained Rs.
3 million from the Treasury by the 'Supiri Wasana' lottery and started
the pension scheme.
The social security pension and welfare scheme was inaugurated in the
year 1996 by an Act of Parliament. This Pension Scheme has been
introduced and 300,000 persons between the age of 18-59 who are
self-employed have been enroled at present. Objective of this scheme is
to strengthen economic capacity of elderly at their old age.
Persons who are above 60 years can obtain Elders Identity Card from
Grama Niladhari, Divisional Secretariat or the National Secretariat for
Elders.
Elders' Identity Card facilitated elders to have priority in
Government and private sector services, ability to get an additional
interest for fixed deposits in National Savings Bank and ability to get
5 percent discount from State Pharmacutical Corporation for purchasing
medicines and 670,962 Identity Cards have been issued up to now.
These village level elders' committees have been started with the aim
to protect the rights of elders, encourage welfare programs for them,
get their participation in the divisional development activities and
enhance their social, economical and spiritual development.
A day centre can be established in a public building at divisional
level for elders to spend the day with their friends. Rs. 25,000 is
given for this through the Divisional Secretary.
In 2008, 24 new day centres and 14 income generating projects have
been provided with funds. Around 169 persons have been granted funds for
income generating projects by village level elders committees.
A separate directorate has been established by the Health Ministry to
provide health facilities for the elderly people. The medical officers
of health have been educated in implementing active ageing programs.
Clinics are being conducted for elderly women.
With the aim of improving living conditions of elders, the National
Council for Elders has taken steps to provide financial assistance for
self-employment ventures. Elders who are members of village level
elders' committees are receiving self-employment grants enabling them to
initiate income generation programs.
A sponsorship scheme has been implemented with the aim of providing
an opportunity to philanthropists, Government and non-government
institutions or organizations to provide financial assistance to look
after destitute elders over 70 years of age. Private sector institutions
are assisting this scheme under the corporate social responsibility
program.
Under Api Vavamu Rata Nagamu program at national level elders'
committees are activated to improve home gardening in all parts of the
country. Through this program, it is expected the elderly will improve
their mental health while contributing to the national economy.
Policy recommendations were made focusing on (a) Older persons and
development and (b) Older persons and their families, which Governments
should be encouraged.
In above (a) some of the key recommendations made are given below:
(1) Alleviation of poverty in old age
(2) Policies and programs aimed at older persons with special
attention to rural areas
(3) Programs for promotion of active ageing
(4) Provision of support to older persons in vulnerable situations
such as those providing care and protection to needy grandchildren and
older persons living alone.
(5) Facilitating the provision for access to information,
communication and life-long learning.
Under (b) some of the key recommendations are;
(1) Formulation of policies that enable families
(2) Taking action for health promotion and disease prevention aimed
at promoting the healthy ageing population
(3) Creation of barrier-free/age friendly environment for older
persons to create an inclusive society
(4) Promotion of organizations for older persons and other
community-based organizations at grassroot level that could provide
social protection and social inclusion
(5) Strengthening legal efforts to ensure and protect the rights of
older persons.
The ageing of our population will create tremendous demands for new
social services.
In a developing country like Sri Lanka, the problem of poverty has
overshadowed the problem of ageing. There are insufficient funds to
change the situation.
As older people increase in number, they are in danger of being
perceived even less than they are now as social assets, and more as a
drag on development. Attitudinal changes of all ages have to take place
through awareness programs.
Social and economic planning must take the elderly into account as a
resource, rather than as people waiting for help. Therefore, the
challenge is to see the role of older people in society as included in
the need to maintain and advance economic development, and thus viewed
anew as part of the same phenomenon.
Let us work towards social inclusion of all as family surrounding is
the best place to live.
The writer is the Chairperson of the National Council for Elders
Concluded
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