By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Oct 1: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said that the government was planning to utilise the practical knowledge, skills and experiences of senior citizens for socio-economic transformation and development of the country.
In a message issued on the occasion of the 29th International Senior Citizens Day on Monday, the Prime Minister said that the government was creating a favourable environment for the transformation of knowledge and experiences of senior citizens to the new generation. “The family and the society can get the right direction only through the guidance of the senior citizens,” the Prime Minister said.
“To assure social security of senior citizens, the government is implementing senior citizen health insurance and social security allowance programme,” the Prime Minister said in his message. The Prime Minister informed that the number of senior citizens had reached 3 million with the increase in life expectancy of Nepali people.
The government has started establishing geriatric ward in some hospitals for the treatment of senior citizens, the PM said.
“The scheme of elderly allowance started by the first communist government led by late Manamohan Adhikari by providing Rs. 100 per month has now been increased to Rs. 3000 per month. This would be increased to Rs. 5,000 during the five years’ term of the current government,” the PM said.
The Prime Minister said that around 250,000 senior citizens are getting free health services, covering up to Rs. 100,000 per year from the health insurance programme initiated by the government.
The senior citizens health insurance programme will be implemented in all 77 districts from the current fiscal year, the PM added.
The Prime Minister further said that the government was going to establish Senior Citizen Homes in each state and was effortful in providing discount in the transportation fare to senior citizens.