Page 207 - LECTURETTE TOPICS eBOOK

shop.ssbcrack.com

The status of Senior citizens in India

• A number of families leave their elders in old age homes and do not even care
to ask how are they doing. The old age homes are flooding fast in India and
that’s a sad reality! This is because they are no longer a source of income for
the family and rather increase their financial burden.
• There are a number of senior citizens who are not aware of their rights as
elder citizens and do not know the various schemes that the government runs
for their welfare. As a result, they feel helpless.
• Old age brings along a number of problems and health issues like poor
eyesight, less hearing ability, problems in breathing etc. There are so many
senior citizens in India who are suffering from a number of diseases and have
nobody to look after them.
• Shamefully, a number of senior citizens in India are prone to harassment
violence and abuses!

Government schemes for senior citizens
• There is a lower tax burden on senior citizens and an income up to Rs 3 lacs
is non-taxable. For super senior citizen, this tax bracket extends to 5 lacs.
• They can get a deduction of up to Rs 30000 under section 80D of Income Tax,
for their expenditures on health premiums.

• 50% concession on air and railway tickets is given to senior citizens.
• Schemes like Senior Citizen Investment scheme ensure a higher rate of
interest on investments for the elderly.
• Preferential hearing of court cases for senior citizens is another benefit.
• The Ministry of Social justice and Empowerment runs an Integrated
programme for older persons (IPOP) whereby it looks after their needs of food
and shelter. It maintains a number of care centers and old age homes.
• Other schemes include Varishta Bima Yojana, Indira Gandhi national old age
pension scheme (IGNOAPS), National Programme for Healthcare of Elderly
(NPHCE)

201 | P a g e shop.ssbcrack.com