Revised State old age and transgender policies to be published soon: R. Bindu

Two important policies — the revised State Old Age Policy and the updated Transgender Policy — will be published soon, Minister for Social Justice R. Bindu has said.

Kerala was one of the first States to introduce a policy for the elderly. The Old Age Policy 2006 was later reviewed and a new policy came out in 2013. This is being updated now.

“The old age policy is in the final stages. We can publish it within one month,” Dr. Bindu told The Hindu in an interview.

The Minister said the State also planned to provide domiciliary care to all bedridden old people. “We will provide caregivers to every bedridden elderly. We already have a palliative care system. Now, the Social Justice department, Local Self-government department, and the Health department together will handle the project.”

Dr. Bindu said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had convened a meeting of youth clubs and volunteer organisations working in the social justice sector. They would participate in the domiciliary care project.

“We will collect details of all volunteers and create their pool. These volunteers will take responsibility of caring for the elderly if they are abandoned by their families,” she said.

The Kerala State Elderly Commission, she said, could come into being in a month.

Recently, the State Assembly had passed the Kerala State Elderly Commission Bill, making Kerala the first State to do so. “We have to form the rules related to the Act too,” Dr. Bindu said.

As per surveys, the elderly would make up 25% of the State’s population by 2030. A protective mechanism for them was imperative for they faced all sorts of atrocities. Many of them also had a rich life and professional experience, gathered over the years. Though eager to contribute their capabilities, they felt abandoned, their best years behind them, leading to disillusionment and frustration.

There was a dualistic approach to the establishment of the elderly commission, with quasi judicial powers, the Minister said. First, it would speed up protection, as the commission could intervene if a crime was being perpetrated against the aged and visit the affected persons. It was not enough for the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act to remain on paper. It had to be put into action, she said.

“At the same time, the commission will tap the resources of the elderly,” the Minister said.

The department planned to create a skill bank of the elderly towards this end. This would provide a space for them to present their affinities, aptitudes, and aspirations.

The elderly would be associated with activities at the grassroots level — they could participate in the day-to-day activities of the local bodies, planning process, and contribute to projects such as waste management or skill enhancement in which they had experience, she said.

Their abilities could also be utilised in the digital literacy campaign. The elderly who are familiar with use of computers, mobile phones and Internet could train other elderly to use these in everyday lives and connect with others.

Besides enforcement of the law, strengthening intergenerational ties was the need of the hour, Dr. Bindu said. “We have to teach our younger generation to behave properly with the elderly. They have to be considered assets which can be effectively used for welfare of society,” she added.

Transgender policy

The government was about to finalise the transgender policy too. Kerala was the first State to implement a policy for transgender in 2015. It too would be out in two months, Dr. Bindu said.

On the demand for accommodation for transgender persons owing to the social ostracism they faced, the Minister said two short-stay homes, one each, functioned in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi for them.

“This year, we plan to implement a housing scheme for them. If they have land, we will help them build a house. From next year, money will be provide to those who don’t have land to purchase it,” she said.

The Minister said the government planned to strengthen the transgender clinic at Government Medical College Hospital, Kottayam. “We want to send doctors abroad or to Bengaluru to learn about more about protocols such as WPATH. We have formed a number of guidelines for sex reassignment surgery and are providing financial assistance too,” she added.