Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens

The traditional norms and values of the Indian society are facing a gradual decline in the joint family system leading to circumstances where many parents are neglected by their children. This leads to lack of emotional, physical and financial support. To prevent this from happening and to financially assist the elderly, the Government has introduced schemes for the welfare of its senior citizens, and one such scheme is Integrated Programme for Senior Citizen. In this article, let us take a closer look at the scheme.

Objectives

The main objective of the scheme is:

To improve the quality of life of the Senior Citizens by providing basic amenities like shelter, food, medical care and entertainment opportunities.
To encouraging productive and active ageing by providing support for capacity building of State/UT Governments/ Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)/ Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs)/local bodies and community.

Eligibility Criteria

The Organizations have to be a registered body, to attain a corporate status.
It has to be registered either under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 or relevant State Societies Registration Act and should have been working for at least two years; or a Public Trust registered for the time being or a charitable company that is licensed under Companies Act, 2013.
The organization must have an authorised managing body with powers, duties and responsibilities that are defined and laid down in a written Constitution. It should have an appropriate administrative structure and a duly constituted Managing/Executive Committee.
The organisation has to be governed by its members on democratic principles.
The organization should not run for profit to any individual or a body of individuals.
The organisation has to possess credentials and capabilities to handle such projects.

Documents Required

Proof for expertise/experience of the organisation in related programmes/services.
The constitution of the Association, Memorandum of Association and the details of objectives.
Constitution of the Board of Management and the date of constitution of present Board of Management.
Latest Annual Report.
Information of the grants received from the Department of Central Government/State Government/ any other source for the same project.
A statement that contains the balance sheet and the full, consolidated receipt and payment account of the organisation/institution for the last two years and a copy of the balance sheet of the previous year.
A bond in a format as prescribed by the Government, on a non-judicial stamp paper, for the amount of grant-in-aid that is executed by the controlling authority of the institution/organisation.
Organisation providing the beneficiaries list and staff members with their Aadhaar Number.

For homes that assist Senior Citizens with Alzheimer's disease/ Dementia, it would be necessary for the organisation to obtain certificates from Government Hospitals that certifies the beneficiaries who are suffering from Alzheimer's disease or Dementia.

Measures Taken

Assistance of the scheme would be given to the Implementing Agencies such as State/ UT Governments/ Panchayat Raj Institutions/ local bodies and eligible Non-Government/ Voluntary Organizations etc. Some of the measures taken by the implementing agencies are given below.

Programmes that cater basic needs to Senior Citizens, particularly food, shelter and health care to the impoverished elderly.
Programmes to build and strengthen intergenerational relationships, particularly between children/ youth and Senior Citizens, through Regional Resource and Training Centres (RRTCs).
Programmes for encouraging active and productive ageing, through RRTCs.
Programmes for providing insitutional and non-institutional care/services to Senior Citizens.
Research, advocacy and awareness building programmes in the field of ageing through RRTCs.
Welfare programmes for Senior Citizens.

Programmes Admissible for Assistance under the Scheme

Maintenance of Senior Citizens' Homes/ Senior Citizens' Homes for Women, including those under Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY).
Maintenance of Continuous Care Homes and Homes for Senior Citizens afflicted with Alzheimer's disease/Dementia.
Maintenance of Mobile Medicare Units.
Physiotherapy Clinics for Senior Citizens.
Maintenance of Regional Resource and Training Centres.
Other activities considered suitable to meet the objectives of the scheme, including implementation of the provisions of National Policy for Senior Citizens (NPSrC).

Financial Assistance for the Project

Up to 90% of the cost of the project that is indicated in the scheme would be provided by the Government of India, and the remaining will be contributed by the respective Organization/Institution.
If projects are maintained by the State/Union Territory/ Panchayat Raj Institution/Local Bodies, 100% financial assistance would be granted.
For schools, colleges, educational institutions and recognised Youth Organizations like Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and the National Service Scheme (NSS) conducting programmes and services for older persons, up to 100% of the cost of the project as specified in the scheme would be provided by the Government.

Implementing Agencies

According to the scheme, assistance would be sanctioned to the following agencies as per the terms and conditions laid by the Ministry.

Preference is given to the State Governments/ UT Administrations for supporting the projects under the scheme of IPSrC via Registered Societies/Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs)/ local bodies.
Non-Governmental/Voluntary Organizations.
Institutions/Organizations that are established by the Government as autonomous/subordinate bodies.
Government recognised educational institutions, charitable hospitals/ nursing homes and recognised youth organisations.

Procedure to Submit Proposals and Release of Grant-In-Aid

Applications in the prescribed format have to be submitted/forwarded/recommended by the State Government/ Administration of the Union Territory in the given manner.

All new proposals for sanction of projects under the scheme have to be submitted online along with the required documents.
The applications for release of grant-in-aid for ongoing projects have to be submitted by the NGOs online to the State Government in the prescribed format.
The State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations would have the ground functioning and suitability of the proposing agencies that are examined through its field functionaries for sanction of the new projects and also for the continuation of the grant-in-aid for the ongoing projects.
When forwarding new cases, the State/UT has to make sure that the proposals from the service-deficient areas are given priority.

Inspection

The primary responsibility for inspection of the projects that are undertaken by this scheme will be managed by the concerned State/ UT Government. The grant-in-aid would be released depending on the Inspection Report of the State/ UT Administration. The Ministry issues guidelines for nature, type and periodicity of the inspection.

Termination of Grants

If the Ministry is not satisfied with the progress of the project or finds these rules/guidelines are violated by the implementing agencies, it reserves the right to terminate the grant-in-aid and recovers the amount of grant-in-aid that is already sanctioned with penal interest.

Change of Location

The change of location of the projects has to be made with prior approval of the Ministry or the State Government/ UT Administration.

Registration

According to the provisions of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, all institutions run by Government/Non-Governmental/ Voluntary/ Private Organization or society/ trust and providing residential/ other facilities to senior citizens for their care and welfare has to be registered online as a service provider with the designated Registration Authority in the State/ UT.

Terms and Conditions

It is the duty of the head of the Organization to carry out the instructions that are issued by the Central Government or the State Government.
The grantee institution maintains separate accounts in respect of the grant that is obtained from the Ministry.