Himachal plans to revamp scheme for elders: CM

The Himachal Pradesh government is planning to revamp its scheme for elders with an aim to improve quality of life by providing them basic amenities, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said on Friday.

Presiding over a workshop organised by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities here, he said that 10 percent of the population of the state constitutes people aged 60 years and above. The figure is higher than the national average.

The World Bank in its recently released report has also highlighted the likely increase in the ageing population of the state.

He said the state government is according top priority to the welfare of the elders.

The chief minister said Himachal Pradesh was the first state in the country to implement the Parents Maintenance Act. Later, the act was also implemented by other states.

"We need to learn from the vast experiences of the elders as they can contribute immensely in enlightening society in a constructive manner because of their long life experiences," said the octogenarian chief minister.

He also released a book -- "Status of the elderly in Himachal Pradesh" -- published by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities and its partner institutes, the Institute of Economic Growth in Delhi and CRRID (Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development) of Chandigarh.