Aizawl, Sep 25: Mizoram Governor, General (Dr) Vijay Kumar Singh, PVSM, AVSM, YSM (Retd), held a meeting with Lalzarmawii, Commissioner & Secretary of the Social Welfare Department, and other senior officials at Raj Bhavan to discuss the department’s initiatives for old age care and pension schemes in the state.
Governor Vijay Kumar Singh praised the Mizo community for its respect and care for elderly individuals, describing it as a commendable cultural trait. While noting that most elderly individuals in the state are well supported by their families, he stressed the need for well-structured Old Age Homes/Senior Citizens Homes for those who may face neglect or lack adequate care. The Governor emphasized addressing feelings of worthlessness and isolation among elderly individuals sensitively, advocating for counsellors to provide guidance and alleviate loneliness. He added that caring for parents and elderly individuals without abandoning them is a societal responsibility. He urged the Social Welfare Department to continue addressing the challenges and needs of elderly individuals with commitment and to strive for further enhancements in their welfare, assuring full support for the challenges and proposals presented by the department.
During the meeting, Caroline Hmingthanzuali, Joint Director, and Zomuanpuii, Assistant Director of the Social Welfare Department, delivered a comprehensive presentation on old age care and pension schemes in the state. According to the presentation, 24,524 individuals in Mizoram currently benefit from the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme. Of these, 15,393 individuals aged 60-79 receive a monthly pension of Rs 1,200 (Rs 200 from the Central Government and Rs 1,000 from the State Government). Additionally, 9,131 individuals aged 80 and above receive a monthly pension of Rs 1,500 (Rs 500 from the Central Government and Rs 1,000 from the State Government).
Under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), Mizoram has achieved 97.96% Aadhaar seeding and 90% mobile seeding, placing it among the top-performing states in Northeast India. The Mizoram Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Rules, 2013, has established Maintenance Tribunals at the Sub-Division level and Appellate Tribunals at the District level. However, no cases related to old age care disputes have been reported so far. The State Senior Citizens Home in Aizawl, established in 1989 with a capacity for 10 residents, currently accommodates 9 individuals (6 men and 3 women) and is staffed by 10 employees. To date, the home has provided care to 79 individuals (53 men and 26 women), with the oldest admittee being 96 years old.
Officials from the Social Welfare Department highlighted that the number of eligible pension beneficiaries under the National Social Assistance Programme has been capped by the Central Government, with over 7,500 applications currently pending. They noted challenges in selecting new beneficiaries, except in cases of death, and stressed the need for efforts to cover deserving individuals and accommodate more beneficiaries under this scheme from Mizoram. In addition to the Old Age Pension, other schemes under the NSAP, including the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme, Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme, and National Family Benefit Scheme, have seen an increase in state contributions from Rs 100 to Rs 1,000 effective from 1 April 2024. The officials also appealed for an increase in Central Government contributions to these schemes.
The meeting also covered various aspects of old age care management, the welfare measures being implemented, and the need for enhanced efforts. Discussions included the provision of counselling services at Senior Citizens Homes to address mental health challenges, plans for establishing larger and more advanced old age care homes in the future, and the introduction of day care centres, palliative care training, and other necessary initiatives.
The meeting was attended by Ajit Roy, Secretary to the Governor, along with Social Welfare Department officials, including Additional Secretary Lalnunhlua and Joint Secretary Zonunthari, among others.
