The policy when passed into law will cater for vulnerable aged people above 60 years with no regular source of income or support and will be a nationwide exercise.
“The scheme is a government owned scheme, and all we need now is the policy that will be forming the basis of the legal framework,” Mr. Kamara said, adding that the government is aware that it is part of their priority to cater for the aged.
He added that the scheme was setup mainly to give cash transfer to vulnerable aged and that they are planning to galvanize it to attract funding as part of their medium and long-term planning.
The formulation of this policy shows a clear direction in the part of the government to see that issues of older people are address.
The National Safety Net Scheme according to Mr. Kamara was established by Late President Ahmed Tejan Kabba to support the contributing scheme of NASSIT to cater vulnerable aged people that are no longer working.
“For now we are targeting people vulnerable people above 60 years with no regular source of income whether are not they have work for the government or not” he said; adding that people on pension on or above 60 are not part of the scheme.
He furthered inform that since the inception of the scheme government has been giving le 100,000 but the new government is now giving le 150,000 as the cash transfer scheme and that they have concluded two month payment.
2030 United Nation Sustainable Development Goals recognized that development will only be achievable if it is inclusive in all dimensions of development, including promoting the active participation of elderly people socially, economically and politically.
Executive Director Salone Organization for the Welfare of the Aged Deacon Tamba Ben Gbenda said the organization has been involving in the preparation of the policy, adding that they initiated the process for the policy.
The idea of the ageing policy according to Mr. Gbenda is crux of advocacy, stating that they needed to advocate for the policy like any other groups.
“Our advocacy was to have a legal frame work that will be protecting the human right of elderly people in the country” he said; adding that there are also regional and international treaties that the government have signed but have not been rectified for domestification.
He added that they want to see medical, income security and shelter in the policy after the rectification, adding that it will be covering their basic needs.
