Development through healthy ageing

Mrs. V. Jegarasasingham, Secretary to the Ministry of Social Services and Social Welfare and Chairperson of the National Council for Elders in an interview with the Sunday Observer elaborates on challenges faced by Sri Lankan elders and the steps taken by the Social services and Social Welfare Ministry to uplift the condition of elders.

by Samangie WETTIMUNY
 

V. Jegarasasingham

If we are to begin from the recent past, the introduction of legislation for the Protection of the Rights of Elders, Act No. 9 of 2000 is quite significant in the history of the welfare of elders. Prior to that National Committee on ageing was set up in 1982. A policy document on ageing and older persons was submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers. Based on policy guidelines, an action plan was prepared. Anyway it is after 1991 that the National Committee on Ageing became more efficient. In 1992 a National Policy with a plan of action was formulated by the Department of Social Services and the National Committee on Ageing with the objective of giving leadership and policy initiatives in order to create a healthy environment for elders within the cultural norms and religious practices. Providing social, economic, physical, mental and spiritual security to the aged people was the National policy of the government way back in 1992.

Complying with the UN principles the national policy was further expanded in 1998/1999. The main focus is to ensure independence, participation, care, self-fulfilment and dignity for old people.

National policy emphasizes the need to take care of elders while making them partners in the development process. The important aspect is that there is also a maintenance board to take care of parents when children do not take care of them. Though the Board is situated in Colombo a mobile board is also in operation. At present we have one Maintenance Board in Colombo. We receive quite a number of applications and we are having a Mobile Board also to reach out to the needy. National policy for elders always encourages people live in their home environment. We discourage people going to elders' homes. Only people who have no relatives are sent to elders' homes. Special attention is given to ones who have no relatives. "Our ministry is always in close contact with line ministries such as the Ministry of Indigenous Medicine, Agriculture Ministry, Ministry of Environment and Samurdhi. With the help of those ministries we try to make use of the potential of the elderly.

The social security pension and welfare scheme which was inaugurated in 1996 has achieved tremendous success by now. To be entitled to the pension scheme at the age of 60 you have to get yourself registered between the age of 18-59. At the moment around 300,000 persons who are self-employed have been enrolled. Elders' Identity Cards are available for those who are over 60 and can be obtained from Grama Niladari, Divisional Secretariat or the National Secretariat for Elders. In the recently held elections a lot of elders were benefited by the identity card.

Not only that the identity card normally helps elders to get special attention in both government and private sector services.Another important programme launched by the ministry is the village level Elders Committees which encourage welfare programmes for them. To assist elders a day centre can be established in a public building at divisional level. A grant of Rs. 25,000 is given for this through the Divisional Secretary.

The Ministry has introduced a home care service for elders where you can hire a well trained attendant by paying Rs. 500 per day. A family policy too would be introduced shortly where we would take steps to empower the younger ones in the family so that they can look after the old people.

In 2007, the Ministry launched a pilot project where we selected 4 older persons above 70 from each district to pay each of them Rs. 500 per month. Altogether 100 people are allowed to receive that allowance..

'Api Wawamu Rata Nagamu Programme" has achieved tremendous success within a very short period. Under this programme at national level Elders' Committees are activated to improve home gardening. The main intention is to improve the mental health of the old people. Likewise they can make a tremendous contribution to the country's economy.