Abstract

Senior citizens in our society struggle to live peacefully due to various challenges. They are being neglected by their children because of major factors like health issues and generation gap.  Senior citizens require social dignity, financial security, and legal aid privileges to protect their rights and fulfil basic needs .Public policy are panacea for the welfare of senior citizens in democratic governance. These policies should effective, elderly cantered and based on moral values. Implementation of welfare elderly policies can minimise the violence against elderly population. Government of India has been enacted various senior citizens policy for their maintenance and healthy life. Aims and objectives of these policies are provide elderly health benefits,  financial assistance, food security, residential  benefits ,religious travelling facilities and social engagement benefits etc. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme- 1995, National Policy for Older Persons- 1999, Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act- 2007, National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly-2010 and National Policy on Senior Citizens -2011 are creating a senior citizens friendly environment. In Odisha , Odisha State Policy for Senior Citizens-2016 and ABADANA Scheme- 2024 are showing the activism of  state government. This study examines the effectiveness of elderly policies, identifies the policy gap and recommends some strategic improvement.

Keywards:  Senior citizen, Public Policy, Social dignity, financial security, Democratic governance.