One of the most striking feature of the Ashok Gehlot led state government in Rajasthan is that it has also focused on the elder people of the society. The senior citizens many times feel that they are often ignored in the society and their kids do not care for them. However state government has provided them financial support, medical and health facility and even a chance to go on pilgrim apart from other policies.
The senior citizen pension scheme which was introduced during the previous tenure of Gehlot go weakened during the BJP government but when Gehlot returned as CM again in Dec 2018, the scheme has been strengthened and is giving financial security to the senior citizens who do not have a source of income and they feel shy and hesitated to seek help from their children.
The free medicine scheme though does not differentiates people on the basis of age or gender or anything but it has been a boon for the old age patients especially from economic weaker background who are able to get medicines for their ailments through the scheme.
During the covid lockdown far flung areas were catered by mobile OPD vans which catered to people for their OPD needs which they otherwise get from hospitals . Once again it helped the patients and senior citizens who got medical assistance near their door steps.
Moreover, the scheme of free pilgrimage visit under Mukhymantri teerth yatra yojana has also been strengthened in this budget and now more senior citizens can take the benefit. CM Ashok Gehlot while replying to the appropriation bill announced that now 20 thousand beneficiaries will be ferried under the scheme as against 10 thousand previously.
