Budget for senior citizen centres to be increased: CM

Porvorim: After the opposition criticised the state government for reducing the budget for day-care centres for senior citizens under its scheme ‘Ummid’ the government assured that it will increase the allocation during the supplementary budget.
Social welfare minister Subhash Phaldessai said the government will inspect the centres to check their functioning. Rerecreational facilities, including yoga classes, will also be started at these centres, he said.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai accused the government for decreasing budgetary provision for running the centres from Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 55 lakh. He said that the government has not made any allocation for palliative care. “This government is neglecting senior citizens,” Sardesai said.
Replying to the question chief minister Pramod Sawant said that due to non-utilisation of funds, the budgetary provision was reduced but it would be increased in supplementary demands.
Reading out paragraph 5 from the scheme, Sardesai said that government provides financial assistance to local self-help groups (SHGs) to run the day-care centre and questioned the government on how many local bodies have reached out to the government to start senior citizen centres. He said that most of the local bodies and NGOs are unaware about the existence of the scheme.
Sawant said that training is provided to new panchs and councillors about the citizen charters of all departments and it is their duty to approach the government to avail the schemes.
“If all local bodies reach out to the government then how will the government allow them to start when budgetary provision is decreased,” Sardesai said.
As per the 2001 population census, Goa has 10% senior citizens and this increased to 11.4% as per the 2011 census.
Phaldessai said that 49 senior citizens centres were operating in the state, and that during the pandemic the number was reduced. He said, “There are 10 centres in operation now and every village should start such centres.”