The Social Justice Department will spend Rs.10 crore for setting up old-age homes in all the districts of the State in association with non-government organisations, a senior official of the department has toldThe Hindu .
Though several NGOs are running old0age homes independently, with some of them getting aid from the government, the new scheme will be different as the government will have more say in the administration of the homes.
The government has given sanction for disbursement of Rs.3 crore for the operation of the new scheme and the NGOs fulfilling the government criteria will be selected shortly, according to officials of the department. Process for selection of eligible NGOs has already been initiated.
The increase in the number of elderly due to improved medical amenities and a large non-resident Keralite population have necessitated measures for the welfare of the elderly in the State.
Kerala’s total population as per the 2011 census was 3.36 crore, of which about 12 per cent were reportedly aged above 60 years.
The rate of growth of the elderly population in the 70-80 age group has been higher.
