11 the appropriate government may provide for an old age fund for payment old age fund of old age pensions and for implementing other schemes for the aged, under this act 12 the aged parents shall have the right to be supported by their children, 1n accordance with the social and economic status of their family, enforceable through the regula- right of aged persons to be supported by tory authority, who for that purpose shall have the powers of a judicial magistrate their children power to make rules 13 the central government may, by notification in the official gazette, make rules for carrying out the purpose of this act statement of objects and reasonsone of every 10 persons on earth is over 60 years of age in india over 6 per cent of the population is over 60 years, which is likely to grow up to 10 per cent by 2016 ad in view of the fast growing population of the aged (60 plus) in the world, the united nations had declared the year 1999 as the international year of the older people the government of india has formulated a national policy for the old (sixty plus) persons to help them in the last phase of their life this policy document, outlines a series proposals for providing social and economic security to the aged it has also mooted the idea of observing the year 2000 as the national year of the older persons the principal areas of intervention and action strategies suggested in the policy for the aged include the following:—  1 financial security for older persons working in the formal sector as well those in the informal sector; 2 health care & nutrition to enable older persons to cope with health and other problems commonly associated with old age with particular emphasis upon preventive strategies; 3 shelter/housing keeping in view the life style of older persons; emphasis upon education, training and information needs of older persons along with promotion of research and advocacy in the field; 5 priority attention to especially vulnerable group such as the destitute, widows and the disabled older persons; establishment of a welfare fund for older persons; special attention to protection of life and property of older persons; provision of appropriate concessions, rebates and discounts to older persons; full participation of non-government organisations in the sector; eon n 10 formation of self help groups of older persons; 11 strengthening of the family and reinforcing intergenerational relationships between children and older persons; 12 development of trained manpower in the sector particularly in medical colleges and schools of social work; 13 use of experts in public administration to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the policy it may appear from this formulation that the national policy seeks to address only economic needs of sustenance of the aged it fails to recognise the enormous store of wisdom, intelligence and experience available amongst the aged, and the need to impart amongst them a sense of active participation in community life, self-fulfilment and dignity in society, which can go a long way in contributing to the development of the nation the national policy really falls too short of the nation the national policy really falls too short of the un principles for the older persons (resolution 6/91) adopted by the un general assembly in 1991 calling upon world governments to incorporate them into national programmes the 18 principles adopted under the resolution called for action in many areas including: independence: older persons should have access to food, water, shelter, clothing health care, work and other income generating opportunities; education, training, and a life in safe environment participation: older persons should remain integrated into community life and participate activiely in formulation of policies affecting the well-being of the nation care: older persons should have access to social and legal services and to health care, so that they maintain an optimum level of physical, mental and emotional well-being this should include full respect for dignity, beliefs, needs and privacy self-fulfilment: older persons should have access to education, cultural, spiritual and recreational resources and be able to develop their full potential dignity older persons should be able to live in dignity and security, be free from exploitation and physical or mental abuse and be treated fairly, regardless of age, gender and social or ethnic background the necessary provisions are, therefore, to be made in conformity with the un declaration provisions should not only be made to provide economic independence to the aged, but also to ensure that they remain integrated into community life and actively participate in the formulation of policies for their own well-being and the well-being of the nation they should thus have access to educational, cultural and recreational resources to develop their potential to the full, and to lead a life with dignity, social status and security apart from the national policy and programme for the aged, it is necessary to provide them, not only economic freedom from want for food, water, shelter, clothing and health care, but also to ensure their active participation in community life and opportunities for self fulfilment and to lead a life with dignity karan singh financial memorandumclause 4 of the bill provides for constitution of a national commission for the aged clause 5 provides for generation of funds for financing schemes for aged and promotion of network of old-age homes clause 7 of the bill provides for appointment of a regulatory authority clause 8 provides for old age pension clause 9 provides for free medical aid to the aged clause 10 provides for training, suitable employment, vocation, free travel facilities etc to the aged persons clause 11 of the bill provides for creation of an old aged fund the bill, therefore, 1f enacted, will involved expenditure from the consolidated fund of india it 1s estimated that an annual recurring expenditure of about rupees ten crore will be involved from the consolidated fund of india a non-recurring expenditure to the tune of about rupees five crore 1s also likely to be involved memorandum on delegated legislationclause 13 of the bill empowers the central government to make rules for carrying out the purpose of the bill the delegation of legislative powers is of a normal character, as the matters to be prescribed are of detail only