Bhopal: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday said state government will not let old people suffer from any problem. He said information of senior citizens staying alone in urban areas, towns and big villages will be collected and listed to ensure their safety. Chouhan was addressing a gathering at the state level programme organised on the occasion of International Day for Older Persons at the Academy of Administration. He said a panchayat of senior citizens will be held at CM House shortly.
Chouhan launched ‘Single Click Pension Distribution Scheme’ on the occasion. Lauding the scheme, Chouhan said efforts will be made to improve it further. Speaking further, he said Indian culture lays emphasis on respect for elders. He said entire society will benefit through the Ashram system and added old age homes are a result of western culture.
He said the world is changing. “Today, parents are willing to leave infants in crèches. Whether such children will leave their parents in old age homes is a cause for concern. It has to be understood that they should stay with their grandparents and family,” he remarked.
Panchayat and social justice minister Gopal Bhargav said negligence towards old parents is most inhuman act. Government will penalise such people. He mentioned an incident wherein a man residing in US received information about his mother’s death in Mumbai after six months. “This should not happen in the state, efforts should be made to check it,” he remarked.
Social justice department principal secretary Ashok Shah said MP is the first state in country to deposit pension in bank account of 35 lakh beneficiaries. He said people can avail 10 types of pension at the click of a button. Earlier, 6,000 signatures were needed in the pension approval process. “Now, one signature is enough,” Shah said.
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