Bhubaneswar: The State Government has decided to name the Senior Citizens Award (BayoJyestha Samman) after a renowned, eminent personality of the State.
This decision was taken at a high-level meeting held recently under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary of Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department Bishnupada Sethi.
During the meeting, it was decided to name individual awards after a renowned, eminent personality of the State in the category relating to his/ her respective field.
Further, the amount of prize money was proposed to be Rs 50,000 in each category. Principal Secretary advised the representatives from Help Age India and FOSCAO to suggest the suitable names.
The State government has been distributing senior citizens awards under 11 different categories under the ABADANA (A Scheme for Welfare and Protection of Senior Citizens).
The Department has also decided to constitute a State Level Committee to discuss the project proposals coming for financial support from the State Government under Integrated Scheme for Older Persons (IPOP).
During the meeting, the Principal Secretary stressed upon formulating a detailed guidelines for establishment, maintenance and financing of the Old Age Homes under ABADANA scheme with the provisions for eligibility criteria, benchmark standards to be maintained, role of district administration in scrutiny and recommending the proposals, budget provision etc. similar to the guidelines for Special Schools.
Detailed discussion was held to find out the gap areas in the backward regions of the State where there is no such infrastructure available for care and shelter of indigent senior citizens.
Reputed organizations will be invited for establishment and running of Senior Citizen Homes in about 200 under developed and tribal blocks. The State Government will provide land and maintenance costs to them, Shri Sethi said.
It was also decided at the meeting that a revised guideline/ SOP outlining the program components and expenditure units for utilization of the amount should be formulated first and obtain government approval.
Revision of ABADANA scheme guidelines with detailed provision in each of the program components will also be prioritized, officials said.