New Innings Plan

#NewInnings #Plan

Not in this year's budget, but in last year's Kerala budget, the government announced a grand scheme called "New Innings" for senior citizens. This scheme was introduced with the lofty aim of including senior citizens in active socio-cultural and health activities. It sounded like the name of a national award-winning film. But nothing happened

The Finance Minister had proudly announced that Rs 5 crore had been allocated for the implementation of the scheme. But after the budget speech ended, it seemed as if the government itself had doubts about whose innings this "New Innings" actually was. No specific benefits such as direct financial assistance or new pensions for senior citizens were clearly announced.

Conceptually, it was known as a welfare and rehabilitation scheme based on the grand philosophy of "active aging". But if you study the history of the Kerala budget, you will understand, some schemes are made not to be implemented, but to be announced as mere ideas.  A clear example of this is the “New Innings”.

According to the information available, neither the guidelines of the scheme nor the working structure through the local self-government institutions have been fully formed. Therefore, ordinary senior citizens have not received any service that can be directly experienced under the name of this scheme. Special health service - no. Employment opportunity - no. Monthly assistance - no. Training programs. no. Entertainment - no. In short, the name “New Innings” is only in the name, the innings have not started.

Now the state of this scheme is like that of a Thirunakkara boat - it is still lying there. Without moving even an inch from the announcement stage, without providing any practical benefit to senior citizens, the “New Innings” is resting peacefully. 

The fate of most of the schemes announced through the budget by the current and .former Finance Ministers is the same: some schemes are not for implementation, but for newsworthiness!

K. A. Solaman