Friday, April 30, 2010

Why do we tell lies?



Here is a write up from my friend Dr PV Vaidyanathan, written exclusively at my request.

===========================================

Why do we tell lies?

It's very obvious that the main reason we lie at any point of time is because if we were to tell the truth, it would bring us harm---physically, mentally or emotionally. Lying is mostly for self protection or to protect someone dear to us. So, one of the main causes of lying is fear about the consequences of telling the truth. And why are we scared to tell the truth? Because we have done something that we feel should not be done or we have not done something that we should have done. For example, my wife has told me not to smoke or chew betel leaves, but I could not help it as I am addicted, and have gone for a smoke. When she asks me "Where did you go"?, obviously, I am not going to tell her I went to smoke, for that would mean an hour of shouting, cursing and castigation. So I tell her that I went for a walk, or to the shop to get something or to the temple. I have basically saved my skin, by telling this lie. Or she has told me to buy something on my way back from work. As usual, I have forgotten. So, instead of telling her the truth, I tell her that the shop was closed, or that he did not have the required thing, or that I did not have money or some such thing. For the time being, I have avoided a showdown and a shouting and there is peace.

The second reason we lie, is to get something that we cannot get routinely. People are known to lie about their age, when there is an age limit for competitions or to get their children into schools, many people lie and produce false caste certificates to avail of jobs reserved for certain castes, we lie about our income to the tax authorities so that we can save some money, or lie about our son or daughter, to get them married etc. So, the first reason is fear and self preservation, the second is to acquire something.

The third reason we lie is because we don't want to hurt someone. My mother or my friend calls me and says "Why haven't you called me or come to meet me in a long time?" Instead of telling the truth, that I don't want to meet you, or that I don't enjoy our meetings, or that I don't like you, I tell lies. I tell them "Oh, I was so busy, or I was traveling or I was unwell" or some such excuse, so that I should not hurt them. This type of lying is more an act of diplomacy rather than white lies.

If you want your near and dear ones not to tell lies, then you must see to it that you are not giving them too many rules and regulations. Children lie because they have been given too many don'ts in life. Don't eat ice cream, don't have cold drinks, don't go down to play without finishing your homework, don't watch television for too long etc etc. Obviously, being children, they do all these things out of temptation, and then lie to avoid being shouted at or being thrashed, or to avoid making their parents unhappy. If your rules are many and stiff, if you are very rigid, if you are very particular or choosy, of if your acceptance of events and other people is very bad, if you are intolerent, people will always find ways to lie, to get around them.

Of course, it is always good to tell the truth, and honesty is the best policy, as we have been taught. But if one wants to speak the truth, one must also be prepared to face all the consequences of telling the truth. My father used to say "If I go and tell my boss that he is stupid and his face is like a monkey, I might be telling the truth, but I will be abused and will have to look for another job". So, speaking the truth comes with a lot of consequences. Friends become foes, relatives stop interacting with you, your wife and children avoid asking your opinions, the tax authorities will make your pay more tax, and in general a person who always tells the truth is never a popular person, and is likely to be very lonely.

Lying is an art, true. But one thing is clear. The truth has an uncanny way of coming out at the worst possible time when you least want it. If you want to lie, do so by all means, for you are your own boss, but know that if can backfire very badly, sometime or the other. And truth always triumps, maybe after many years, but it always does. Lies are like short term investments, while the truth is a long term investment, like your LICor NSC or PPF.

As far as telling a 100 lies to conduct a marriage is concerned, two things are clear from this proverb. One, the people who coined this phrase had a very high value and regard for marriage and considered it a major, compulsary event and the very purpose of life. Hence they were willing to commit sin, by lying, to see that a marriage went through. To them the end justified the means. Secondly, in olden times, the conditionings and social fabric was such that if you told a 100 lies about the boy, girl or their families and got them married, they would accept all the shocks after marriage and continue to remain married, for divorce and leaving one's spouse was rare. If you try that today, rest assured that before the honeymoon is over, the couple will be screaming divorce. It was okay in the olden days to do it, today, you are really asking for big trouble if you tell lies and conduct a marriage. Many marriages which are conducted truthfully and even love marriages where the couple know each other are known to head for the divorce courts, with an alarming frequency

Thnx

Dr.P.V.Vaidyanathan
M.D;DCH
205, CORAL CLASSIC,
20TH ROAD, CHEMBUR,
MUMBAI-400071
TEL: 022-25222738
MOB:9820302631
http://drvaidyanathan.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/pvvaidyanathan


Thursday, April 29, 2010

Indian Aging Congress – 2010

Indian Aging Congress – 2010

by Prakash Sharma

A joint VIIIth Annual Conference of Indian Academy of Geriatrics and
XV Biennial Conference of Association of Gerontology, India is being
organized as INDIAN AGING CONGRESS – 2010 at Banaras Hindu University,
Varanasi ( India ) on 12th, 13th and 14thNovember, 2010.

Address: - Conference Secretariat

Dr. I. S. Gambhir, Organizing Secretary,
Professor & Head,
Room No- 1363 (B), Department of Medicine,
Institute of Medical Sciences,
Banaras Hindu University,
Varanasi – 221005 (India).

E-mail:iac2k10@gmail.comiac.bhu.2010@gmail.com
Ph. No. 09415255998 (Mob)
Fax No. 0542-230-7520
Web Address: www.bhu.ac.in/IAC/ (for outside BHU users)
http://internet.bhu.ac.in/IAC/ (for BHU users)

=============

Step into 100th year and you will get Rs 1000 as award.

This news is interesting. Pl wait a second to read it. In 2008 I
attended a seminar on Elder Abuse, thanks to an invitation from Ms
Mala Kapur Shankar dass. During that time I heard one Dr Ralte speak
of Health aspects of Mizoram elders. I reproduce my noting at that
time:
===
Dr Jane R Ralte spoke on health access in Mizoram. Here church plays a
major role. Elderly group and senior citizens associations are very
active. Though most needs of Senior citizens are met satisfactorily,
fulfillment of Health needs are wanting. Mizo Senior Citizen
association has a enrollment of (hold your breath) of 54000 seniors.
This goes to prove that smaller states will perform well.
===
It is very interesting to note the strong SCA in a small Eastern State.

=========== Now Switch to the news in the Subject Line ===

Step into your 100th year in Mizoram and get Rs 1,000
Written by Mizoram ExpressNewsApr 23, 2010


Aizawl, April 23, 2010: Living up to a ripe age is what most men and
women would die for. People in Mizoram in particular have another
reason to live longer and still be the 'winner' in life. The state
government which is lately seen wooing senior citizens has decided to
give away Rs 1,000 to anyone who crossed the 100th year mark.

"The state's Social Welfare Department will give cash price of Rs
1,000 and a citation to all those who have attained the age of 100,"
Social Welfare Minister, Mr. PC Lalthanliana said during the
38th Mizoram Upa Pawl (Mizoram Elders Association) General Assembly
held in Vanapa Hall here on April 21.

Senior citizens are "an asset for the society" whose advise "can lead
the new generation to the correct path", the minister added. Pu
Lalthanliana also underlined the need to look after senior citizens
and the aged persons in the way they deserved as it is done in
developed countries.

The General Assembly was presided by MUP President, Pu H. Raltawna.
{With inputs from Zonet}
====

http://mizoramexpress.com/index.php/2010/04/step-into-your-100th-year-in-mizoram-and-get-rs-1000/


Namaste!

Dr P Vyasamoorthy,
30 Gruhalakshmi Colony Secunderabad 500015 Ph 040-27846631 / 9490804278
My blog: http://vyasa-kaaranam-ketkadey.blogspot.com/

Monday, April 26, 2010

One Lakh More Delhi Seniors get OAP

One lakh more senior citizens to get pension

HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times

New Delhi, March 23, 2010

In a major relief to elderly people in the capital, Delhi government
on Monday decided to provide old age pension to one lakh additional
senior citizens.
Of the total amount of Rs 476.5 crore allocated to the social welfare
sector in the Delhi Budget 2010-11, Rs 420 crore is proposed for old
age pension as against last year's Rs 310 crore.
At present, old age pension of Rs 1,000 per month is given to 2.5 lakh
senior citizens. Walia said that about 3,950 persons have benefited
under the government's plan to provide free aids and appliances to
persons with disabilities.
"Government is committed to provide social security to senior citizens
and other vulnerable groups of the society. We have decided to provide
old age pension to one lakh more senior citizens next year," Finance
Minister AK Walia said presenting the Budget for 2010-11.
Government has decided to have more camp-based programmes all over
Delhi and provide free aids and appliances to the disabled. Nine
Tribunals under Senior Citizens Maintenance Act has been set up for
timely disposal of grievances of senior citizens.
The Finance Minister accepted that the Asha Kiran Home, which houses
mentally challenged people, is facing problems of overcrowding and
shortage of staff.
"We have started recruitment of specialist doctors, nurses, ayas and
safai karmacharis. A special ward is being created in Ambedkar
hospital for exclusive treatment of patients from Asha Kiran. A team
of doctors from the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences
(IHBAS) would periodically examine the inmates and maintain individual
medical records," he said.
Walia also said that the government in partnership with NGOs will open
and run new homes for mentally challenged people.
============

Re: [sss-global] This 101 yr-old woman is an NREGS worker

Dear Sir,
 I wonder, in a welfare oriented state like TN, why she does not get her old age pension? Is there no upper age limit for the NREG voluntees?
The situation looks very alarming

Regards
P B Pillai 

--- On Mon, 4/26/10, Padmanabha Vyasamoorthy <vyasamoorthy@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Padmanabha Vyasamoorthy <vyasamoorthy@gmail.com>
Subject: [sss-global] This 101 yr-old woman is an NREGS worker
To: sss-global@yahoogroups.com, sss_global_backup-garchive-17697@googlegroups.com, "vyasamoorthy" <vyasamoorthy@gmail.com>, vyasamoorthy1.kaaranam-ketkadhe@blogger.com
Date: Monday, April 26, 2010, 9:49 AM

 

This 101 yr-old woman is an NREGS worker
Padmini Sivarajah, TNN, Apr 18, 2010, 04.43am IST

Article
Comments (10)

Tags:NREGS|Karupaye e

MADURAI: Karupayee is one of the first at the panchayat union office,
hoping there's work for her under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Generation Scheme (MNREGS). Her story is similar to
millions of other Indians who have benefited from the government
programme providing for 100 days of guaranteed employment. But
Karupayee is 101 years old.

Karupayee of Thanakankulam village in Thiruparankundram panchayat
union in Madurai district is probably the oldest NREGS employee. She
doesn't have records to prove her age, but when she enrolled herself
in the scheme last year, she told the officers that she was 110 years
old. They re-calculated it based on the age of her eldest son
Sandhanam, who is 82, and put her age down as 100 on her NREGS card.

Villagers call her 'suru surupu paati' (brisk granny) as even at a
ripe old age she hasn't stopped working. Karupayee has worked for 60
days so far, between April 2009 and March 2010, and says it has helped
her live with dignity. "My husband always said we should be
independent, and that is what I am doing by earning and cooking my own
food," she says.

She married Chockanvirumandi, a mill worker, over 80 years ago. He
died 50 years ago, after contracting rabies when a street dog bit him.
She kept her family afloat by taking up various jobs.
Only three of her seven children are alive today, but she has 15
grandchildren and a handful of great-grandchildren . She also avails of
the monthly widow pension of Rs 400 given by the state government.

http://timesofindia .indiatimes. com/india/ This-101- yr-old-woman- is-an-NREGS- worker/articlesh ow/5826956. cms

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
.

__,_._,___

Report of Results of Online Survey on NPOP

Salient Points from Online Survey on Revision of NPOP
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Silver Innings Foundation and Society for Serving Seniors conducted an
online Survey to collect opinions of Senior Citizens about NPOP. The
questionnaire hosted on Questionpro site was kept open for a month.
Some 226 persons answered.

Most important results of the Survey are:

Top 5 Needs of Senior Citizens:
1) There is a need for Fast Track Courts exclusively for Senior
Citizens : 82.30%
2) Old Age Pension must reach all deserving persons : 81.86%
3) Separate Medicare policy must be available for older persons : 80.53%
4) Senior Citizen must be defined as one who is 60 plus : 79.20 %
5) A National Level Elder Helpline (Four digit Code) must be set up : 77.88%

Top 5 issues of Senior Citizens:
1) Health & Medical Care
2) Accommodation & Shelter
3) Food & Nutrition
4) Psychological Needs
5) Insurance


Some important Demands
1) Affordable health insurance for senior citizens
2) Alzheimer's must be included in the mentally ill disabled group
in the census
3) Social Security Scheme for the Elders
4) A separate ministry for elderly persons
5) Life Long learning opportunity
6) Palliative care should be supported
7) Training of care givers
8) Inflation indexed interest for all savings instruments
9) The 80 Plus should be treated as a separate category for special
assistance.
10) Separate plans for young old , old old and very old
11) Include comprehensive policy for Dementia in NPOP
12) Rural Elders should get special attention
13) Nodal agency to take care of the problems of senior citizens
14) R & D to be encouraged for different issues of Elderly

Complete report is available as a pdf at:

http://www.karmayog.org/nonprofits/redirect/strred.asp?docId=3529

Complete report and a covering letter have been personally handed over
to Sri Mukul Wasnik, Minister, MOSJE, GOI, Delhi during his visit to
Bangalore in connection with the opening ceremony of 70 bed Dementia
care center of Nightingale Trust on 14th April 2010.

We thank everyone for responding and participating in the survey.

=====================

This 101 yr-old woman is an NREGS worker

This 101 yr-old woman is an NREGS worker
Padmini Sivarajah, TNN, Apr 18, 2010, 04.43am IST

Article
Comments (10)

Tags:NREGS|Karupayee

MADURAI: Karupayee is one of the first at the panchayat union office,
hoping there's work for her under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Generation Scheme (MNREGS). Her story is similar to
millions of other Indians who have benefited from the government
programme providing for 100 days of guaranteed employment. But
Karupayee is 101 years old.

Karupayee of Thanakankulam village in Thiruparankundram panchayat
union in Madurai district is probably the oldest NREGS employee. She
doesn't have records to prove her age, but when she enrolled herself
in the scheme last year, she told the officers that she was 110 years
old. They re-calculated it based on the age of her eldest son
Sandhanam, who is 82, and put her age down as 100 on her NREGS card.

Villagers call her 'suru surupu paati' (brisk granny) as even at a
ripe old age she hasn't stopped working. Karupayee has worked for 60
days so far, between April 2009 and March 2010, and says it has helped
her live with dignity. "My husband always said we should be
independent, and that is what I am doing by earning and cooking my own
food," she says.

She married Chockanvirumandi, a mill worker, over 80 years ago. He
died 50 years ago, after contracting rabies when a street dog bit him.
She kept her family afloat by taking up various jobs.
Only three of her seven children are alive today, but she has 15
grandchildren and a handful of great-grandchildren. She also avails of
the monthly widow pension of Rs 400 given by the state government.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/This-101-yr-old-woman-is-an-NREGS-worker/articleshow/5826956.cms

Senior citizens invested in a reverse mortgage can switch over to a new bank

Senior citizens invested in a reverse mortgage can switch over to a new bank
April 20, 2010 04:12 PM |
Amritha Pillay

Senior citizens who have gone in for reverse mortgages, can approach
any bank that offers an improved, amended product—for a switchover to
the new reverse mortgage model—which offers higher monthly returns

With competition expected to grow in the reverse mortgage segment,
(see here), senior citizens will have more reasons to rejoice. While
new customers will be able to choose from a variety of products, the
existing 6,400 customers who have gone in for reverse mortgage schemes
from various banks will be able to switch over to a new bank of their
choice.

According to National Housing Bank (NHB) officials, existing customers
would be allowed to change their bank (the bank which has currently
issued a loan on the reverse mortgage model), if they wish to do so.

"The earlier loans that have been sanctioned to the senior citizens by
the banks were basically based on regular loan schemes. They have been
allocated a certain amount, based on which they are given payments on
a monthly basis. If a person has taken a loan in 2008 or 2009, he
would have availed a maximum of one year or two years of monthly
payments.

"The balance would still be left with the bank, so he can utilise the
unutilised balance payment amount, for the purpose of the new loan—he
can simply convert that into a second loan," said V Sambamurthy,
regional manager, NHB.

In the current scenario, wherein only Central Bank of India (CBI) is
providing a better product compared to the original one launched in
2007, the existing 6,400 customers can approach CBI to buy out their
loans, in order to switch over to the new model.

If the existing customer is a customer with CBI itself, there would be
minimal issues and the customer can switch to the new product.
However, if the senior citizen has his reverse mortgage loan linked to
another bank, he will have to approach the CBI to buy out the loan.

"The only bank which is offering this (a new product) at present is
CBI. If the loan has been taken from another bank, CBI can always buy
out the loan," added the official.

The choice lies with the customer whether he wishes to switch to
another bank or not. However, the ultimate discretion lies with CBI or
will lie with any other bank that may offer a competitive product in
the future—whether to buy the loan or not—depending on certain
evaluations.

"They (the existing customers) can work out a deal between the two
banks. The borrower can express the desire and approach CBI to buy out
the loan. However, the ultimate decision will lie with CBI," Mr
Sambamurthy explained.

Such switchovers will not only allow the customer to avail of better
products, but also allows scope for a new property evaluation.

"Probably, in this two-year period, the house value may also have gone
up. A switchover could also help options like devaluation, if
necessary or if they (the senior citizens) so desire," the official
stated.

Since its launch, around 6,400 customers have availed the reverse
mortgage schemes under the original model. A total amount of around
Rs1,200 crore has been sanctioned. The new model allows better monthly
payments, (see here).

Thus, a switchover option will prove beneficial to existing customers.
This switchover will be possible only when CBI starts the new scheme,
which is right now on hold because of some tax-related issues.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

PESU - Volunteers consolidated list

Volunteers for PESU - Listening service
Society for Serving Seniors

26/03/2010

1) Kambhampati S. Sastry
101 Akshaya Apts.
6-3-565 Somajiguda
Hyderabad 500 082
Tel: 2332 3588
kssastry@ureach.com
Remarks: Would like the candidate be introduced by someone known to him.
====
2) BD Jain,
Phones: Hyderabad 23600147 / 9949877197.
Time: between 7.00 pm and 8.pm.
Hindi & English.
Retired Industrialist
=======
3) RV Nath (Raghunath)
Ready to spare daily 1 hour each day: 9 am to 10 am
freely converse in english, hindi, tamil, malayalam
and konkani.
Phones: Hyderabad 27731834 and my cell no. is
9985761083
=====
4) K Sivaram
65 Gruhalakshmi Colony
Secunderabad 500015
Ph 040-30588852 / 9703970929
English Telugu Tamil & Hindi
=======
5) Dr P Vyasamoorthy
30 Gruhalakshi Colony
Secunderabad 500015
Ph 040-27846631
Mobile 9490804278
English, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada
After 6.00pm in evenings
========
6) Mr csrao
Telugu Tamil English
Age:: 70 years
Time that can be allotted:: 7.00 to 8.00 PM daily
Telephone Number:: 23747812.
========
7) Ms NM Rajeswari
rajeswarinm@yahoo.co.in
9440272386 - Mobile
Alternates between kondapur (Hyderabad) & Rajamundri
Listens to lonely women
============

8) Budda Rama Rao
ramarao Hyderabad
09440066085
Telugu & English
=======
9) KV Shastri
(aged 67)
201 Geetha Mansion 5
Police Station Street
BS Layout Seethammadhara
Visakhapatnam 530013
0891 2536592
+919848606440
Time: 5.00pm to 8.00pm any day.
kvshastri@yahoo.co.in
Telugu & English
venkatashastri@gmail.com
============
10) Botta Rami Reddy, 64 years, Ex. Air Force,
Tel; 65164762 and cell: 9849444762 ,
Ameerpet near New Science Collage,
Hyderabad
can spare at any time Two hours
Languages: Telugu, English and Hindi
BOTTA RAMI REDDY <botta_47ramireddy@yahoo.com>
=============
11) VIjay Anand
9441674034.
To retire shortly (2010)
Bhel Ramachandra pauram Hyderabad
From 4.00pm to 8.00pm
If Urgent: Any time willling to pick up calls.
Telugu & English
================
12) Ms Rekha Bhushan
Near AOC Gate, Secunderabad
Phones: (040) 27805146, mobile: 9866008180
Trained counseller
Telugu & English
rekha bhushan <rekhabhushan@hotmail.com>
==============
13) Wg Cmdr A Bharat Bhushan
Near AOC Gate, Secunderabad
Phones (040) 27805146 Mobile: 9848048651
38, Krishnapuri colony, West Marredpally,
Secunderabad 500026
bhushanavulab@yahoo.co.in avulab@hotmail.com
Timings: confirm by contacting him
Languages: Hindi Telugu and English
============


14) Raghavan Ramasway
Timings: 11 am to 4pm[about 4 hours a day]
languages known;- tamil, english and hindi.
phone #040-20083654 & 040-42211378. (Chennai)
mobile 9701536445.
Remarks: Trained by doctor, lakshmi vijaya kumar,
psychiatrist, madras.
served in !sneha! [organisation to prevent suicides---
Befrienders international--for six years, 1986-1992
=========

Houses for senior citizens

Houses for senior citizens

Saumyajit Roy
Tags : senior citizens, Old-age home
Posted: Saturday , Apr 24, 2010 at 0028 hrs

The standard of living of senior citizens has undergone a sea-change
in the last few years. With their growing numbers, increased financial
independence and change in mindset, the elderly, these days, have
started living life on their own terms and not at the mercy of their
children and family. They are no longer considered as a withdrawn,
risk-averse and financially-dependent section of the population. The
immense potential of this segment, with its unique needs and promises,
offers an array of opportunities to the Indian real estate market.
Need-based product development

While opportunities exist, it is important to understand the ecosystem
in which seniors live in India. The aged population faces numerous
issues, therefore, it is imperative that real estate developers
understand and acknowledge the unique requirements of this sector. A
growing sense of insecurity, absence of companionship, fear of getting
obsolete, loss of relevance within the family, increasing physical
disability, difficulty to access transport, a need for quality
healthcare and geriatric care, and complexity in conducting the daily
chores of family life are some of the several issues that this
population faces today. These, compounded with poor access to the
government and other support systems, insurance and legal assistance,
simply immobilises them. These nuances of old age need to be
thoroughly recognised by India's developers.

Collapse of support systems

The fast collapse of India's traditional family support system has
given rise to an increased number of nuclear families in the country.
In India, more than 60 per cent of households are nuclear and 8.94 per
cent of the population is aged above 60 years - indicating that the
aged are in greater need of support than ever.

Social stigma

Though the concept of old-age or retirement homes still has a social
stigma of abandonment attached to it, this retrograde mindset is
slowly changing. Today a large number of seniors are adapting
themselves to the idea of 'senior living'. Elderly, now, prefer
spending their sunset years with similar-aged companions and share
facilities in settings of enablement and security. Interestingly, a
recent survey of households with senior citizens revealed that over 60
per cent found the concept of a senior citizen's club or a senior
citizen's association as a viable and practical one. Contemporary
retirement homes or resorts have replaced the earlier concept of
old-age homes, which symbolised the last option for needy and
abandoned elderly.

Advanced facilities

Today, retirement homes offer a multitude of facilities to their
occupants. The residents no longer have to worry about minute details
of daily household errands, paying bills, security issues and timely
medical treatment. Rather, they can opt for an active lifestyle and
utilise their time in recreational activities, suitable companionship
and participation in social work. There are arrangements for prompt
response to medical emergencies by way of doctors, ambulances and
tie-ups with nearby hospitals. Some projects also offer continuing
care units for ailing residents. These living spaces are designed for
the aged and their day-to-day needs.

Existing projects

Private entities who have already made a foray into enabled senior
living projects are Shobhaa Developers, Rakindo Group, Brigade Group,
Ashiana Group of Builders, Paranjape Schemes and Riverdale Retirement
Resorts. Their projects are already operational in major cities like
Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore. LIC Housing Finance Ltd
has made an entrance in the sector with Care Homes at Bengaluru as a
part of the social responsibility. Apart from these, there are
charitable organisations working in this area of real estate
development. A majority of these developments have 50-100 units in the
resorts or complexes. The typology of units varies from 1 BHK to 3 BHK
units, resorts and studio apartments.

The author is assistant vice president (senior living) Jones Lang
LaSalle Meghraj.
================
URL:
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/houses-for-senior-citizens/610595/0


Dr P Vyasamoorthy,
30 Gruhalakshmi Colony Secunderabad 500015 Ph 040-27846631 / 9490804278
http://www.google.com/profiles/vyasamoorthy.

You can take a horse to water but not a donkey.

Senior citizens to avail 50% tax rebate in payable income (Islamabad)

Senior citizens to avail 50% tax rebate in payable income

ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday announced that
senior citizens over the age of 60 years are entitled to claim 50
percent rebate in the payment of tax outstanding against them. The FBR
has clarified that this facility is available to all senior citizens
under section 53(1) c and clause 1A of Part-III of the second schedule
of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, which clearly provides that "where
the taxable income, in a tax year, of a taxpayer aged 60 years or
more, his tax liability on such income shall be reduced by 50
percent". The facility is also available in case a tax has already
been paid at any stage by senior citizens who can claim the refund
while filing their annual tax returns. staff report
===========
Source:
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\04\24\story_24-4-2010_pg5_4
=========================

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Senior citizens' homes emerging as a serious segment of real estate: JLLM

Senior citizens' homes emerging as a serious segment of real estate: JLLM
Dileep Athavale, TNN, Apr 24, 2010, 06.05am IST

Tags:Pune|Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj

PUNE: Indian real estate scene is witnessing the emergence of senior
citizens' homes as a new market segment as the number of projects and
housing stock directed at this section of population is rising fast, a
report by real estate advisory firm Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj (JLLM)
has said.

The observation is highlighted in a report Senior housing sector in
India: Key Trends,' which JLLM released on Friday. "The status of
seniors in Indian market is experiencing a sea-change, owing to their
growing cohort size, augmented financial independence and change in
mindset. They are no longer considered withdrawn, risk averse and
financially dependent. The immense potential of this segment, with its
unique needs and promises, offers an array of opportunities to the
Indian real estate market," the report said.

Saumyajit Roy, associate vice-president (senior living) at Jones Lang
LaSalle Meghraj, told TOI, "Five years ago, there were only about 3 to
4 developers focusing on senior living sector to any degree. Moreover,
their focus was diffused and their approach was not as well-researched
and need-based, as it is today. In the current context, there are
around 14 developers actively exploring this segment."

In India, more than 60 per cent of households are nuclear and 8.94 per
cent of the population is aged 60-plus, indicating that the aged are
in greater need of support than ever.

According to real estate market sources, the number of housing units
being built specifically for seniors has increased four to five fold
and the segment is on a growth path. "We estimate the number of units
in this segment at about 4,000 now, but the way the segment is growing
we expect this number to jump to over 20,000 in three years," said the
chief executive officer of a Mumbai-based real estate consultancy firm
who did not want to be named.

The report pointed out that while opportunities exist, it is important
to comprehend the ecosystem in which seniors exist in India. It is
imperative that real estate developers understand and acknowledge the
unique requirements of the elderly while catering to the sector. The
aged population faces numerous issues, typical of the sunset years of
their lives.

"A growing sense of insecurity, craving for companionship, fear of
getting obsolete and loss of relevance within the family, increasing
physical disability, difficulty to access transport, a need for
quality healthcare and geriatric care, complexity in conducting the
daily chores of family life are some of the several issues that the
aged face today. These, compounded by poor access to government and
other support systems, insurance and legal assistance, immobilise
them. These nuances of old age need to be thoroughly recognised by the
developers," the report has elaborated.

The report underlines that there are rising numbers of seniors who are
adapting to the idea of senior living' spending the sunset years of
their lives with similar-aged companions and sharing facilities in
settings of enablement and security. The report also points out to a
recent survey of households with senior citizens which revealed that
over 60 per cent found the concept of a senior citizen's club or a
senior citizen's association as a viable and practical one.
Contemporary retirement homes or resorts have replaced the earlier
concept of old age homes, which symbolised the last option for needy
and abandoned elderly, it said.

City-based Paranjape Schemes Construction Limited has pioneered the
concept in the city with their project Atha Shree (the beginning),
which has thus far completed three such projects and has set its sight
on other cities and countries to develop retirement villages.'

Another realty firm, Ashiana Housing Limited, is constructing the Rs
200 crore Utsav Lavasa in Lavasa City near Pune. The project will
comprise 475 retirement housing units comprising of villas and
multiple choices apartments. Manoj Tyagi, vice-president, Ashiana
housing, said there is a growing acceptance among discerning Indian
senior citizens about retirement homes. He said the residents of the
retirement resort will be able to maintain the active, healthy
lifestyle that they have grown accustomed to, but with more luxuries
like hobby clubs, activity rooms, swimming pool or health club.
================

Lipogram: Is it the weight of fat in grams?

Lipogram: Is it the weight of fat in grams?

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Book Review: Geriatric House Call Project

Book Review: Geriatric Housecall Project

Senior Citizens Bureau, Chennai has published this booklet (56 pages) on the occasion of First Anniversary since launching the Geriatric Housecall Project in Feb 2008.  The project team has enlisted the co-operation of 55 doctors, 11 physiotherapists, 5 psychologists to make Housecall to senior citizen patients who are immobile. A directory of these persons, area wise is given. A spin off of this activity is the provision of medical diagnostic test (sample collection) facility (called geriatric clinical laboratory service) at the doorstep of the individual. The charges of diagnostic centers are highly affordable as good discounts are given. A list of such centers is also given. A small list of persons / organizations that provide home care service through Aayahs, nurses, bedside assistants etc is also given.

Guidelines for doctors, patients and caregivers for the proper functioning of the scheme are provided. Doctors are advised to take up patients only nearer to their residence / clinic. Caregivers are advised to keep records medicines etc properly. Patients are told that this service is only for emergencies and they should not keep calling the doctors for simple and routine matters.   As a part of this service issuing death certificates is also made easy and simple.       

In practice it is seen that emergency calls relate to falls, acute confusion, stroke etc. Non emergency visits included cases of OA knees, Parkinson's disease, dementia, and debility. One year's experience also threw up many problems that are being sorted out. Detailed feedback on the project from 8 doctors, 5 physiotherapists, 2 psychologists and 4 beneficiaries are given.

The booklet also gives details of many scientific / academic programs aimed at continuing education of doctors, especially on topics like "Geriatric Emergencies at home", "geriatric sexuality", "cognitive impairment in the elderly", "Urinary incontinence in the elderly" – all relating to geriatrics – conducted under the aegis of SCB. Better informed doctor is a better service provider. In the case of geriatrics where is no facility for even formal courses, conducting such courses is very laudable.

This publication is immensely useful to all senior citizens in Chennai. It will also be useful to any SCA that wishes to start similar service in their city / town, as the booklet has enough info or guidelines to start a similar scheme. A pioneer has shown the way. Let us follow their experiences.

=================================================================

The booklet may be had by contacting Capt Dr Eng M Singaraja  - Chennai Ph 28231388 / 9444127704 and sending Rs 50/-

Monday, April 19, 2010

Book Review: Pensioners Handbook 2010

Pensioners Handbook 2010

This 150 pages Pensioners Handbook is a Bible for Central Government Retiring Officials and Pensioners. "Including Railways" says the sub title indicating that much of the information flows from RREWA website as the author is affiliated to this association. This is a veritable storehouse of Pension Rules Circulars and forms. This supplement to regular journal of Bharat Pensioners Samaj is the third in the series.

There are three parts and 7 appendixes. The first part is on basics for retiring officials.  Part 2 presents an overview of Retirement benefits like Pension, Gratuity, Provident Fund,  Group Insurance, Travel and medical benefits. The last part deals extensively with basics for pensioners. The seven appendixes are useful to all. They include commutation Table, Forms to be used, an article on healthy ageing by the famous geriatrician, Dr VS Natarajan and details of CGHS and RELHS schemes. The section on End of Life Issues and preparation of Will are useful to any senior citizen. The check list is very thoughtfully prepared.  The bibliography on the outside back cover lists essential books that you have to consult to turn you into an expert.

The book gives in a simple language the broad pension policy governing pre-2006 pensions, basic rules, procedures and regulations with respect to sanction and disbursement of pension besides retirement benefits.  Actions needed to be taken by officials who are about to retire to ensure a smooth transition into post retirement and in the unfortunate event of death of the employee are spelt out.

The book is distributed free to members of the association. However, others may get a copy by donating Rs 100/- by MO. To encourage even others who get free copy to donate a token sum, an MO form is inserted prompting quick action. If you have seen any Yellow Pages Directory, all available 'filler' spaces are used by inserting advertisements about Yellow Page Service. Similarly there are good number of hints thrown everywhere in the book asking for small payment. The book is definitely worth much more than they are asking for. Please go for it if you have anything to do with government pensions.

If you need updated information, it is always available in RREWA website: http://www.rrewa.org/ that has been recently revamped. Though managed by RREWA, the portal is a veritable, indispensable resource for ALL pensioners, not only Railways or Central Government.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

A Review of Some Second Career jobsites

A Review of Some Second Career jobsites

Introduction

Very often people retire early under VRS or opt for early retirement
arising out of frustration: "Enough is enough" feeling overpowering
them temporarily. Very soon such people get bored with retired life
which is boring caused by empty, "nothing worthwhile to do"
realization. They wish to be re-employed and get back to active work
culture. Personal finances could be another major reason for looking
for jobs again. They are still young, healthy and bubbling with energy
to go on for another decade easily. Many seniors might have retired
at the 'normal' age to retire as dictated by the employer's rules.
They too may be seeking jobs again. What are the resources available
at our disposal for these specific needs? Let us briefly review a few
of these.

Review of Jobsites for Seniors

1. Society for Serving Seniors based in Secunderabad runs a blog site
called: APSCCON Second Careers Blog. The URL is:
http://apsccon-second-careers.blogspot.com/
Here a list of vacancies, primarily suitable for senior citizens, is
uploaded every week. The list is culled from popular websites like
Naukri, Jobahead, Monster India, Clickjobs, Careerjet and others.
Twitter feeds for similar vacancies are also regularly added. The
latter has the advantage of being highly current and nascent. A
reader can go to the concerned jobsite for more details.
It is primarily meant for members of APSCCON (Andhra Pradesh Senior
Citizens Confederation).
However anyone can benefit by it. The usage is strangely minimal.
2. Run by Ms Shivani Mehta of MS University of Baroda, jobsforelders
is a website started in September 2007 as a part of academic project
work. (http://www.jobsforelderly.in)
There is a decent list of employers in Gujarat who prefer to take up
senior citizens. The site is not up dated regularly and as a job site
may not be of great use. "Profiles", intended to be job listings under
various categories, is not clickable – perhaps it is out of date and
hence the links are dummied.
3. One of the recent entrants in this field is
http://jobsfor60plus.com/. As of now only very few jobs are listed but
they promise to expand very fast. This site is hosted by an NGO based
in Chandigarh.
4. Another slightly older jobsite exclusively designed for senior
citizens is: http://www.talent58.com/ This site can not be used
effectively unless the job seeker registers. You can not see jobs
available just by searching or by categories or city etc, unless you
are already approved as a job seeker. However if you are an employer,
even without any registration you can get list of candidates seeking
re-employment by searching categories. When you see the list you can
not find out if the candidate is still available (may have registered
a decade ago and may not be interested now) or the date of
registration etc. Some links do not open (broken links).
5. http://www.anubhuti.biz/ is yet another site taking care of senior
citizens, disabled persons, and women wo would like to take up jobs
after a gap. The last category is called the 'come back' group. Job
postings are occasional. Some years ago this site was vibrant and
active but now it is dormant with no updates.
6. Dignity Foundation in collaboration with ICICI Prudential has
started a website called http://dignitysecondcareers.org/ This site
also has provision for registration as an employee, employer,
volunteer, volunteer seeking NGO, etc. Unless you register no
information is available for the casual visitor for assessment. No
search is possible.
You need to pay Rs 1200 as a lifetime fee to enroll yourself as a
volunteer which includes a free subscription to Dignity Dialogue – a
monthly newsletter.

If the senior citizen is net savvy another very useful source one
should not miss out is the Twitter database. I find searching tweets
for second career vacancies highly rewarding.

Apart from the above specialized job sites, regular job portals like:
Naukri, Jobsahead, Monster India, Clickjobs, Careerjet have regular
job posts feeds. Searching such sites is easy, useful and very user
friendly. While registration helps maximise the usage, it is not
mandatory. The problem with a 'pucca' registration as an employee
seeking job info is that the process involves tedious data entry
running to several pages. You need to wait to be admitted. Finally the
site will turn out to be disappointing with no updates or suitable
jobs. I find this Registration Requirement very irksome and a great
hindrance. Though I am job seeker, in how many sites should I
register, wasting my time?

Alternatives

Why does one seek a second career or re-employment? Is it not for
augmenting financial resources? In that case, I would like to suggest
two slightly out of the way alternatives. As a substitute for
re-employment, some single seniors look out for second or re-marriage
opportunities. Here the consideration is that the other party will be
financially sound and be willing to share the burden of household
expenses. Availing Reverse Mortgage Loans by pledging one's property
for generating a steady stream of income is an alternate way tackling
money worries, if a person does not succeed in getting a job suitable
to his requirements or expectations.

Summary

From the foregoing, we can see that, although many job sites are
coming up for the older people, none is maintained well or updated.
This is a great disappointment. Any job site for elders should: be
easy to use, not insist on elaborate registration procedures, be kept
updated with current listings, and delete vacancies that are filled
up. I am not in a position to comment on second career counseling
centers run by Dignity Foundation, Harmony, Heritage etc as I have no
personal knowledge of their current functioning.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Indiblogger meet at Hyderabad - What a fun!

Hyderabad Indibloggers Meet: 11th April 2010

It was great fun to participate in Hyderabad based bloggers meet conducted by Indiblogger at Hotel Select Manohar today. The event was sponsored by the famous Cell Phone Selling Chain, Univercell.  The Indiblogger team members are young, vivacious, humorous, witty but business minded. They introduced themselves and asked every one of the bloggers present there (over 120) to introduce themselves. Most of us could do a very decent job in the allotted time of thirty seconds each.

From the hour long introductions, I could gather that popular topics for blogging are politics, sports (chiefly cricket), finance, investment & stock market, poetry, music, celebrities, gossip. Then come technical blogs, mostly IT oriented; this is easy to understand as IT employees have regular access to the net right from their work bench. Quite a few blogs were written to promote certain specific business interests: Jobs, fashions, real estate, stock market, recruitment are examples.  A few unique topic based blogs were: Chemical Engineering (Vineet), Retirees & Pensioners (read: senior citizens) (my humble self), Biotechnology (Raj), CGHS (Rajeev), Railways (Vijilesh), pollution. There was one photo blogger as well. A video blogger from Germany participated in absentia by presenting his rib tickling video clip, a parody on Hitler. Though many IT guys professed that they blog on IT related topics, only one (Varun) said that he is interested in algorithms per se. There was a blogger who had collected the Google Home Page doodles right from the beginning. One HR person (Menon ?) confessed that he wears many masks during working hours and blogging helps him unmask himself after office hours. Telugu and Hindi bloggers too have a huge audience.

Later, each blogger was given a large piece of chart paper to hang on to his back so that others could write about him. This was great fun and deeply engaging.  This facilitated interaction and F2F meeting. Very many recognized me as the oldest blogger in the group! When we were asked to raise our hands if there were any blogging for social causes, some half a dozen hands went up. Ads4good, a start up company linking bloggers and advertisers, which activity in turn results in donations to NGOs working in social sector, gave a brief presentation and fielded questions.

There was brain raking quiz program – all questions relating to blogosphere. I got zero out of ten. The only question I could answer was about Indiblogger team but before I could raise my hand some one else was smarter and quicker. The audience had so many intelligent and uptodate, well read intellectuals, it must been highly satisfying to the quiz master.  

High tea consisted of delicious Dahi wada, mini burgers and hot Gulab Jamoons followed by coffee / tea. During this tea time, the Indiblogger team provided a help desk and I was a beneficiary. Special thanks to Aliabbas for clearing my doubt. As I had another meeting to attend (AGM of Senior Citizens Forum), I skipped the last session. I left the venue with sweet memories, neatly packed in the form of a beautiful Black T shirt.  It IS a memorable event.

============= 

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Harmony Magazine talks about me: Vyasamoorthy


?ui=2&view=att&th=126fa15dcc2908e1&attid=0.1&disp=attd&realattid=ii_126fa15dcc2908e1&zw
Namaste!

Dr P Vyasamoorthy,
30 Gruhalakshmi Colony Secunderabad 500015 Ph 040-27846631 / 9490804278
http://www.google.com/profiles/vyasamoorthy.



Street Vendors

STREET VENDORS

Recently I asked all of you to share with me details of street based vendors of goods and services we find normally in our residential localities. I thank all of you for your enthusiastic participation. I got more than fifty in my list attached. Someone wondered why I am asking this info. I shall try to explain.

Every morning when I am brushing my teeth around 5.00 am I hear a vendor selling Rai Moggu (stone powder for Rangoli). I used to wonder, almost daily, who will buy this stuff on a daily basis? I can understand the vegetable vendor, the Flower wala coming daily. This nagging question has been coming so regularly everyday that if that vendor does not come for a day I feel my brushing is not complete. Another old man who sells Idli, Vada, Upma etc, riding on his bicycle, comes at about 10:30 in the morning. That makes think: Is he not too late for breakfast? Is he in the last leg of his morning trip? If I order foodstuff from him, will I get cold (stale) stuff? When I hear the Plantain (mouse / khela) fellow shouting and go out, he is nowhere to be seen; the sound is coming from the next street, parallel to ours. Have I missed him? Should I hang on?

Such questions set me thinking further: Are all these vendors of equal use (value) to us? Whom else we may expect to serve us at our doorstep? Are they coming at the right time? How to ensure that we do not miss an important vendor? How do I avoid getting lost in nostalgic memories, when I see some street vendor? To get answers to such most important questions I needed to list out the service providers, eliminate whom I don’t care, examine others and problems relating to each. As a responsible citizen, what can you do to mitigate their problems, if any. For example: Keep correct change, come to ground floor if you in a multistory apartment, talk to him politely etc. The task appeared formidable and sss-global came to my mind. That is why I sent that question.

I had another hidden agenda too. Lord Krishna said that he descends to the earth by taking a new Avatar every time Adharma saturates the earth. Like that, whenever the sss-global group declines to low ebb of activity, I discreetly try to seed a few new discussions. I have observed that if I ask you serious questions like: “Please comment on revision of NPOP” or “Let us enumerate all good qualities about senior citizens”, “How should we handle stubborn government authorities who refuse to listen?” etc, I do not get any response. If I ask simple things like: “How to thicken Sambar?” Or “Who are the daily street vendors we come across?” I get plenty of responses. Sri Ramana has been correctly and closely observing me and is able to understand this group dynamics. He is cent percent correct.

Now, enough of pulling your legs. Here are the results of your labour, love and concern. Don’t you realize that putting many brains together yields a lot of synergy? That is the real reason for my asking all of you that simple question. How is my summing up? Am I not full of questions?

Enumeration of Vendors of Services and goods for the common household at the street level


1. Flowers
2. Allam Moraba
3. Moggu (Stone powder for drawing Rangoli)
4. Sooth sayers (who come with decorated bull)
5. Safai walah
6. Goorkha
7. Milkman
8. Newspaper guy
9. Murai vaasal ladies
10. Aaku Kooralu(green leafy vegetables)
11. Bread, makhan, Ande wala(in Delhi)
12. Idli
13. Paper kayatalu(they buy)
14. Free lance barbers on the road, with hand held mirrors
15. Koorgayulu(vegetables)
16. Seasonal fruit viz Oranges
17. Car cleaners
18. Koora wala,
19. Flowerpot man,
20. Jadu seller
21. Selling ice cream...
22. Selling bangles
23. Tea venders
24. Knife sharpners - with a wheeled machine
25. Old / used paper vendors
26. Beggars (they get you Punyam by accepting your alms)
27. Akukuralu(leafy vegetables only)
28. Kuragayalu(vegetables)
29. Bananas
30. Brooms
31. Narikuravaas selling needles, stones, mala etc.
32. Fishermen selling Fish both dead and alive.
33. Water tank cleaners (young boys)
34. Car cleaners including scooters motor cycles.
35. Gudugudu Pandi telling your fortunes, astrologers, palmists, soothsayers etc.
36. Kitchen Vessels repair and zinc coating people.
37. Fancy dress makers dressing like Rama, Krishna, Hanuman, etc.
38. Dressing like a brahmins and chanting mantras.
39. Tiffins like dosa,idly
40. Sofaset repairers,
41. Sharpening knives
42. Pillow/bed makers, repairers (re-fillers).
43. Pav wala
44. Greens leafy vegetables—Chillies
45. Idli vada Dosa
46. Sundal
47. Ullipayalu
48. Maid using 'Broom' and 'Muggu'
49. Umbrella Repairman
50. Pesticide sprayer
51. Coconut tree climber to pluck coconuts for you
52. Stone Mortar & Pestle – chipper who roughens the surfaces
53. Zinc coater for brass vessels
54. Vepa pullalu (Neem tree shoots (sticks) for brushing teeth)
55. Early Morning Sangeerthana bands (Bajan groups) selling divine blessings
56. Coconut water
57. Rag pickers (they serve you by removing unwanted stuff)
58. Flowers & Fruits sellers
59. Water storage containers (cement, plastic etc)
60. “Seconds” biscuits, bun, bread & bakery items
61. Pickles seller


How many you could not recollect?
How many you did not know?
What brought back sweet memories?
Whom do you miss – not coming nowadays?
Who would you like to see but not as such available?
What items do most people easily recollect (duplicates)?

If these vendors form a union and come to you write out a petition to, say government, residents / public, police, municipality etc what could be common contents? (Their common problems?)

If you have plenty of time, you think on these lines!!

(Above write-up is the result of an interaction among senior citizens in a Yahoo Group Called sss-global)