By P. Sreekumaran
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There is good news for the elderly population in the State. The Keralam Government has just unveiled a 12-tier elderly care plan for healthy ageing.
The Elderly Care Action Plan envisages 12 levels of intervention by stakeholders, alongwith timelines, to address the needs of the State’s ageing population. It will also strengthen geriatric care infrastructure.
The Plan, presented by Health Minister K. Muralidharan, provides a framework for healthy ageing, functional ability and mental well-being. It was handed over to Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan on the occasion of International Day of Older Persons on September 8.
The action plan seeks to identify individuals, families, community volunteers, and neighbourhoods as main stakeholders. It will be supported by the primary health system – ASHAs, family health centres, Janakiya Arogya Kendram, local self-governments and small private providers. The primary health system will be guided by the secondary system at community health centres and major government and non-governmental hospitals.
The interventions include, among other things, adequate personalised care and resources, nutrition, medicines, and social security measures, developing awareness of legal rights of the elderly, and utilisation of basic digital technology for daily living.
The other levels of intervention include Janakiya Arogya Kendrams which are coordinated by mid-level service providers; primary healthcare facilities; local self-government department level; secondary care team/block level; major hospitals, including private hospitals, non-governmental organisation/community-based organisation; care homes and hospitals; district levels; and State level.
A four-category framework bolsters the action plan: bed-bound elderly, home-bound elderly, elderly with chronic illness, and active elderly, each with distinct cared pathways tailored to their specific needs.
This categorisation ensures a continuum of care and makes sure that no elderly person is left behind.
The Government has taken another innovative step by deciding to establish ‘Kerala Desks’ in Dubai, London, New York, Tokyo and Singapore. The idea is to attract foreign investments and strengthen diaspora-led investment engagement. Each of the cities will have “cooperative, no-cost” model desks in partnership with recognised organisations representing the Keralam diaspora.
The laudable proposal is part of the 100-day action plan of the UDF Government. The desks will strive to build relationships with non-resident Keralite (NRK) associations, Keralam-origin business persons and prospective investors, generating pre-qualified investment leads and referring them to the Invest Keralam Cell under the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC).
These desks will seek to replace the Lok Kerala Sabhas established by the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government. While the Industries Department does not specify the ‘Kerala Desks’ as the alternative to LKS, it bills them as the “State’s outward-facing investment facilitating arm”.
An important feature of the plan is that the proposal seeks to shift the State’s diaspora engagement from a permanently remittance-based outreach to an investment-oriented model by leveraging established NORKA business and professional networks across the Gulf, Europe, North America and East Asia.
Another notable feature of the plan is that it will not entail any expense on the State. Each desk will be hosted and administratively backed by a recognised NoRK organisation on an “honorary and voluntary cooperation basis” with the Investment Keralam Cell providing only the “institutional framework, branding, coordination protocol and technical linkage.” The managing director of the KSIDC will identify the NoRK organisations at each location and finalise the scope, protocol and reporting structure of the desks.
The State Government has come up with a plan to the delight of the people of Kannur and its neighbourhood. Chief Minister V D Satheesan has announced that major changes aimed at the overall development of the Kannur International Airport will be implemented soon.
The Chief Minister made the announcement while inaugurating the newly-launched international Air Cargo Complex and the 4MW solar project at the airport the other day. Airports in Keralam will be changed into aviation hubs which could contribute to the State’s economic growth and GDP.
He also hinted at steps that would secure “Point of Calls” for Kannur airport. At present, the airport faces limitations on operating international services because of the lack of this status. As part of developing the airport into an aviation hub, the CM said, the Government plans to start a pilot training centre in Kannur. Airlines, including Air India, had placed orders for nearly 2000 new aircraft and the country is set to face a shortage of pilots when these aircraft entered service. A helicopter pilot training centre will also be part of the plan.
A consultancy service has already been started at Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) as part of the plan to develop airports into aviation hubs. CIAL, Satheesan said, had the expertise and human resources to build airports at lower costs. Through this consultancy service, the CIAL has already received a project related to Durgapur airport. (IPA Service)
