Punjab Newsline,Chandigarh :
₹786 lakh allocated to deliver health, welfare and social security services at doorstep of senior citizens
Punjab Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development Dr Baljit Kaur on Tuesday launched Phase II of the flagship campaign “Sade Bazurag, Sada Maan” from Kalkat Bhawan (Kisan Vikas Chamber) in Mohali, reiterating the state government’s commitment to ensuring dignity, care and social security for senior citizens. The campaign will be implemented on a district-wise basis to provide health, welfare and social security services directly to the elderly at their doorstep.
Dr Baljit Kaur said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is prioritising the well-being of senior citizens. For Phase II of the campaign, an amount of ₹786 lakh has been earmarked to organise district-level camps across the state. These camps aim to ensure that essential services reach elderly citizens in a timely and accessible manner. She informed that Phase II will cover all remaining districts of Punjab from February 2 to February 18.
Highlighting the success of the first phase launched in 2023, the Minister said that 20,210 senior citizens were registered during Phase I, reflecting strong public participation and trust in government welfare initiatives. She added that the second phase has been designed to further strengthen outreach and coverage.
The camps will offer a wide range of services, including eye check-ups and cataract screening, ENT and orthopaedic consultations, screening for non-communicable diseases and dementia, and homoeopathic and ayurvedic treatment. On-the-spot enrolment for social security pensions, issuance of Senior Citizen Cards and ALIMCO cards will also be facilitated. Awareness and assistance related to the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana, the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, and other legal rights will form an integral part of the programme.
Dr Baljit Kaur said that essential assistive devices such as near-vision spectacles, hearing aids, walking aids, cervical collars, belts and wheelchairs will be distributed on the spot to eligible beneficiaries. She also noted that a toll-free helpline number 14567 is operational to support senior citizens across Punjab.
Sharing financial details, the Minister said that around 23.33 lakh beneficiaries are currently receiving old age pensions in Punjab, with a budgetary provision of ₹4,100 crore made for pension schemes in the 2025–26 financial year. During the state-level camp in Mohali, ALIMCO kits and old age pension sanction letters were handed over to beneficiaries, while NGOs and Senior Citizen Associations were felicitated for their services.