CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is continuously taking concrete steps to ensure the safety, health and social welfare of senior citizens, considering them a precious part of our society. The government remains firmly committed to safeguarding their dignity, security and overall well-being. Under the state-level campaign “Our Elders, Our Pride”, more than 16, 000 senior citizens have been registered through health check-up camps and linked with various government welfare schemes across the state.
Sharing further details, Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, Dr. Baljit Kaur, informed that under the Senior Citizen Action Plan, a budget provision of ₹7.86 crore has been made for the financial year 2025–26 for organising health check-up camps and other welfare-related activities for senior citizens.
She said that during these camps, 4, 543 senior citizens underwent general health check-ups, 2, 071 received orthopaedic consultations, 3, 705 had eye examinations, 1, 129 participated in yoga sessions, 1, 489 availed homeopathic treatment, while 2, 054 benefited from ayurvedic services, assistive devices and other essential facilities.
Dr. Baljit Kaur further stated that under the ALIMCO scheme, 243 senior citizens were registered, out of which 89 were provided with wheelchairs, spectacles and hearing aids. In addition, 355 old-age pension forms were prepared and 393 senior citizen cards were issued during these camps.
The Cabinet Minister said that health check-up camps have already been organised in most districts of Punjab, including Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Patiala, while similar camps will be organised shortly in Faridkot and Sangrur.
She added that under the State Action Plan, district-level health check-up camps and allied activities were conducted through this budget allocation. At these camps, senior citizens were provided facilities such as cataract surgery referrals, free distribution of assistive devices, old-age pension services, issuance of senior citizen cards, yoga camps, legal awareness programmes and other awareness activities under one roof. Under this initiative, 2, 187 senior citizens were made aware of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.