The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the main opposition, the Indian National Congress, have released their party manifestos after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, which will be held in seven phases starting April 19 and ending June 1. The results will be declared on June 4.

Let’s look at what the two largest national parties have promised to senior citizens.

BJP’s Sankalp Patra

Health: The ruling party has announced extending health insurance benefits to senior citizens under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana scheme. “We will expand the Ayushman Bharat Yojana to cover senior citizens and provide them access to free and quality healthcare,” BJP said in its manifesto. The scheme provides insurance coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family. Currently, over 34 crore Indian citizens have enrolled in the scheme. The PMJAY scheme has no age limit, but only five members per family, including one grandparent, are covered. The centre plans to bring all senior citizens under the scheme for economically disadvantaged sections of society.

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Additionally, the BJP promises to enhance senior citizens’ access to government social security benefits “by leveraging the extensive reach and reliability of the postal and digital network.” Further, seniors will be trained to use the unified payment interface (UPI) and other online payment methods for ease and to raise awareness of digital scams.

Subsidies: the saffron party has promised to expand the Janaushadhi Kendra network, which provides generic medicines at affordable prices. As of January 31, 2024, 10,607 Janaushadhi Kendras provided around 1,965 generic drugs and 293 surgical items at subsidised rates.

Also, the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana will be extended by another five years. This scheme has provided free ration to over 80 crore economically disadvantaged people since 2020.

The BJP also promised to double the Mudra loan limit to Rs 20 lakh for entrepreneurs who have repaid the loan under the Tarun category. Further, the PM Fasal Bima Yojana, a crop insurance scheme, will be technologically strengthened to ensure faster payments.

To strengthen the social security coverage for the unorganised workers, the BJP promised to integrate schemes like Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) through the post office and digital India network. The PMSBY covers accidental death up to Rs 2 lakh with an annual premium of Rs 12. It also gives Rs 2 lakh cover for permanent disabilities and Rs 1 lakh for partial disabilities.

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On the other hand, the PMJJBY scheme provides life insurance coverage up to Rs 2 lakh, including natural death and accidents, with an annual premium of just Rs 436.

Congress’ NYAY Patra

Old Age Pension: The main opposition partypromises to raise the pension for senior citizens, widows and persons with disabilities under the National Social Assistance Programme to Rs 1,000 per monthfrom the current Rs 200-500 per month.

It also vowed to restore travel concessions in public transport like rail and roadways for seniorsif voted to power. Before the pandemic, the Indian Railways had provided concessions on faresto senior citizens. Male travellers aged 60 or older were eligible for a 40 per cent discount, while female travellers above 58 years were eligible for a 50 per cent discount on their fares.

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Insurance:

The Congress party has announced that it will implement the Chiranjeevi health insurance scheme nationwide after its positive feedback and successful implementation in the then Congress government of Rajasthan. The scheme provides cashless insurance up to Rs 25 lakh. It will also launch the Mahalakshmi scheme for unconditional direct annual cash transfers of Rs 1 lakh to the oldest woman member in every poor Indian family.

It also pledged to enhance institutional credit to schedule caste (SC) and schedule tribe (ST) communities for building holes, starting businesses and purchasing assets. Furthermore, it has promised to double the scholarships for SC, ST, and other backward class (OBC) students in higher education. “We will aid SC and ST students to study abroad and double the number of scholarships for them to pursue a PhD,” the party manifesto said.