Lawmakers demand practical implementation of Senior Citizens Act

Kathmandu, Aug 20: National Assembly (NA) members have called for the implementation of the Senior Citizens Act, 2063 BS (2006) in a true sense.     

The voice was raised during discussions in regard to the "implementation of the proposal of urgent public importance in regard to making additional special provisions to ensure a safe, quality, and dignified life for senior citizens" in today's meeting of the National Assembly's Committee on Public Policy and Delegated Legislation.     

On the occasion, the lawmakers said that though law has provisioned a 50 percent discount on healthcare for senior citizens, it has not been practically implemented.     

Sumita BC said, “Senior citizens are facing issues even for staying at old age homes in absence of citizenships. Due to this, many have been denied of senior citizen allowance. The government should mandatorily take initiative to address such problems.”     

Madan Kumari Shah (Garima) demanded allocations of dedicated hospital beds for the senior citizens, calling for the full enforcement of a 50 percent discount for them on public transport fares.     

Renu Chand stressed the need for building senior citizens-friendly physical infrastructures while Yubaraj Sharma advocated for granting parents with the legal right to claim property from their children.     

According to the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, free and partially subsidized healthcare services, as determined by hospitals, have been ensured for senior citizens through 94 hospitals across 77 districts. Such services have been implemented through Social Service Unit Programme within such health facilities.     

 As updated by Ministry Secretary Laxmi Kumari Basnet, a total of 1,660,370 senior citizens, including 161,825 Dalit senior citizens, 173,560 single women senior citizens, and 17,159 other senior citizens, have been presently benefited from the social security allowance.(RSS)