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

Kerala to publish revised State Old Age Policy and updated Transgender Policy soon, focusing on care and empowerment.

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.