DOT and its meaningless ban on weebly.com

​DOT and its meaningless ban on weebly.com

I am a signed-up member of http://weebly.com. Weebly provides free web hosting services. They also have premium (fee based) services for registering domain names, running sophisticated high-end websites involving or offering e-commerce, online payments, high volume traffic / storage etc. I have set up and administer, free of charge, as a part of social service, three simple functional websites on weebly, namely:

 ​​

1.                  http://aosc-h.weebly.com/  For the Association of Senior Citizens, Hyderabad (known as Lions Bhavan Association popularly)

   

2.                  http://scf-secunderabad.weebly.com/ For Senior Citizens Forum, Secunderabad – A twenty year old SCA that recently won Telangana State Govt Award

3.                  http://ccrwas.weebly.com/  For Confederation of Cantonment Resident Welfare Associations, Secunderabad.  (a seven year old confederation of 70 colony RWAs as members)

However, recently I discovered, some three weeks ago, that the site http://www.weebly.com/ OR http://weebly.com. is not reachable.  I ha​d​

access to their dashboard (Control Panel of some sort) which I can reach using special UserId and Password, after reaching main weebly.com.  That is, their Home Page.   This special access helps me add / delete / change content on the websites I manage.

​ Now this access is gone.​

I complained to weebly via their FB page. They replied stating that my ISP has banned access to their website. I checked with a large number of my friends having Internet access via many different ISPs. I learnt only BSNL Broad Band subscribers are having problem. I lodged a complaint with BSNL and followed it up almost on daily basis. Finally I learn that DOT has banned weebly.com due to security reasons.

Not only that websites updating work has been held up but I have to find out an alternate site similar to weebly and move my three websites there, involving a lot of unnecessary work and inconvenience.

My questions are:

·         What are the security concerns?

·         Why BSNL alone is implementing the ban? (I am able to access weebly via Airtel)

·         When websites (content) hosted on weebly are still accessible, why ban only access to their home page and thus users' dashboards?

·         If a certain website is banned, is it not the duty of DOT to inform all concerned about the ban through ISPs like BSNL etc?

·         Don't you think BSNL is showing scant respect to its BB subscribers?

Can you think of any reasons why DOT is behaving erratically, apparently without any explanations?

 ​

A Million Thanks to All My Well Wishers

A Million Thanks to all of you

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

I am overwhelmed by Best wishes and Warm Greetings pouring in from sss-global, ex-IDL, FB , G+, SMS and phone calls and other means on my Birthday. To anyone whom I haven't thanked, kindly treat this as personal acknowledgement. I can not sufficiently thank you all. I am touched and humbled, once again by your collective warmth and love that is immeasurable and invaluable. 

Dr T Tomas (IP) (per)	Dr J Balasubramanyam (FB)	Sri Markendeyalu (sss)
Ms Sreevalli (Ph)	Dr N laxman Rao (FB)	Sri Madhusudhana Rao (sss)
Mr Shyam Tirokdkar (FB)	Sri Anil Goud (IDL)	Sri A Suryanarayana (sss)
Ms Anureeta Saigal (FB)	Dr K Gangadharan (FB)	Col Venkat Chowdhury (sss)
Mr Dinakaran Iyer (FB)	Sri IM Bhalla (sss)	Sri RV Rao (sss)
Mr B Ramesh (sss)	Sri Sailesh (FB)	Sri Kaushik Das (FB)
Mr ABSV Prasad Rao (FB)	Justice TNCR	Dr Mayanak Trivedi (FB)
Dr N Laxman Rao (FB)	Sri Ram NIvas Sharma (FB)	Sri Arvind Chandwaskar (sss)
Dr Balakrishna Rama Raju (FB)	Sri Uma Maghe (FB)	Sri AK Malhotra (FB)
Mr Ramachandran  V (FB)	Smt ASB Rama (FB)	Prof V Ramamurty (Ph)
Sri Umamaheswarrao Kolli (FB)	Aasara Rajesh (FB)	Smt Suneetha (Per)
Sri Vitthal Rao Lakka Raju (FB)	Sri Peddada Ram Mallesh (FB)	Google
Sri RS Dhakkar (FB)	Sri Chita ranjan (FB)	Sri Indrajeet Ghose (sss)
Smt Aparajita Suman (FB)	Sri Mrinal (FB)	Sri Suresh Bukkapatmam (FB)
Sri Ravi Harihaan (FB) (sss)	Sri P Ramachandran  (sss)	Smt Sobha (sss)
Col Prakash Rao (Ph)	Sri Chepuri Shankar Rao (sss)	Sri V Seshadri (sss)
Smt Jayanti (sss)	Ms Sarojini & VKN (Ph)	Sri R Srinivasan (IDL)
Sri G Balasubramaniyan (sss)	Ms Kamakshi  (Ph)	Sri Balakrishna (FB)
Smt Parveen (SMS)	Mr VRV Rao (Ph)	Sri YVSR Murty (sss)
Dr Prahlad (SMS)	Sri AK Malhotra (Ph)	Sri Hari Lakhera (sss)
Justice TNC Rangarajan (sss)	Sri K Venkatramani (sss)	Smt Kamakshi (FB)
Sri J Narayan Rao (FB)	Sri Lingareddy (Ph)	Sri Lohitakshan IDL
Sri Ram Iyengar (FB)	Ms Shweta (Ph)	Sri Janardhan (IDL)
Sri Nagaraj Sharma (FB)	Sri Khanapur K Rao (sss)	Sri SV Chalapathi (IDL)
Sri TSK Raman (IDL)	Sri Keshav Samant (FB)	Sri Vijayakanth Rao (FB)
Sri Anandaluru (IDL)	Sri Pattabhiraman (IDL)	Sri Mohan Siroya (FB)
Sri Chakrapani (IDL)	Sri AS Murthy (IDL)	Dr Balambal  (sss)
Sri Linga Yadhav (FB)	Sri PV Subba Rao (IDL)	Sri Ramasubba Rao IDL
Smt Uma & Krishnamurthy(Ph)	Sri VK Shukla (FB)	Sri Anil Kaskhedikar (FB)
Dr Gowri Namburi (sss)	Sri S Sathyamoorthy (sss)	Sri Manual Tota (FB)
Smt Kamakshi (Ph)	Sri Mallikarjun (ph)	Sri Js Murthy (sss)
Sri CSU Rao (per)	Sri Linga Reddy (Ph)	Sri N Bagare (sss)
Sri Sv Ramana (per)	Sri RN Mital (Ph)	Sri RV Rao (sss)
Dr EGMahaevan (per)	Dr Nageswara Rao (SMS)	Sri Gopalakrisna (Ph)
Dr Sajjan Singh (sss)	Smt Tara (Ph)	Sri Bashyam (per)
I THANK EVERYONE MENTIONED ABOVE FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!

Fwd: old age pension - a comparative view across States

Comparison of Old Age Pension (IGNOAPS )

February 26, 2014 Counterview.org

A recent report "Old Age Pension Entitlements in India: A Factsheet", prepared by Prashant Prakash of the Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability for Pension Parishad, has nailed the Gujarat government for  failing to take care of its senior citizens. The report says that Gujarat performs "poorly with lowest personal annual income of Rs 2,400 as eligibility for availing old age pension" and ranks among the lowest in terms of "state expenditure per elderly per month." In case Gujarat were to implement universal pension for all its senior citizens, it would have to shell out increase its budgetary allocation by a whopping 1,097 per cent, the highest of all Indian states. Excerpts from the report:

Old age pensions (OAP) as a policy subject comes under the domain of concurrent list according to the Constitution of India. Hence OAP falls within the purview of both centre and state government in India. In line with this responsibility, while the Union government has formulated the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension (IGNOAPS) under a more comprehensive National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), various states are implementing their own old age pension schemes. Within the IGNOAP, while centre provides Rs 200 per month as pension to elderly (aged above 59 years) belonging to below poverty line (BPL) family, based on the BPL survey conducted in 2002, it has asked the states to contribute matching of the exact amount per elderly to share the responsibility of OAP's equally.

Pension provisions differ across states in terms of monthly pension amounts, minimum eligibility age, maximum income limit for eligibility etc. While Goa (Rs 2,000), Tamil Nadu (Rs 800), Andaman and Nicobar (Rs 2000), Puducherry ( Rs 1000) and NCT Delhi (Rs 1,000) are models for monthly pension amount, Jammu and Kashmir (55 F), Rajasthan (55 F, 58 M), Maharashtra (55 F), and Puducherry (56) could be models for the criterion based on minimum eligible age. Goa (no income criterion), Haryana (annual income of couples less than Rs 2 lakh), Daman and Diu (Annual income less than Rs 1 lakh) and NCT Delhi (Annual income less than Rs 60,000) have more liberal maximum income limit criteria for old age pension eligibility.

Poor performers for monthly pension amount are Arunachal Pradesh (Nil), Assam (Rs 50), Meghalaya (Rs 50) and Mizoram (Rs 50). As regards minimum eligibility age, Andhra Pradesh (65 years) and Karnataka (65 years) have set high age limits, and Gujarat performs poorly with lowest personal annual income of Rs 24,000 as eligibility for availing old age pension. Goa, Rajasthan and Puducherry are the overall examples of best practice, but in terms of age Goa is a spoiler at a criterion set at 60 years and monthly pension amount of Rs 500.

Presently total Centre and States' combined expenditure on old age pension is around Rs 14,370 crore a year (as of 2011-12 actual expenditure figures), with the Centre's share of Rs 4,916 crore forming 34 percent of total expenditure, way short of the 50 percent sharing principle that a concurrent list subject like social security demands.

While around Rs 71,287 crore are required for universal old age pension at Rs 500 per month for all aged above 54 years, Rajasthan model demands around Rs 27,639 crore of additional expenditure over and above present expenditure of Rs 14,370 crore. Rajasthan can achieve this comprehensive old age pension scheme by increasing its 2011-12 pension expenditure by around 255 percent. While eight states (Goa, Haryana, Sikkim, Nagaland, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura and Mizoram) and two Union territories (Puducherry and NCT Delhi) are already incurring expenditures on old age pension more than what is required following Rajasthan, five states (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat) will require relatively higher increases in expenditure on pensions as proportion of present expenditure, with Gujarat at the highest.

Indian government (centre plus states combined) is at present incurring an expenditure of Rs 83.8 per month per elderly (aged above 54). Out of this, while the centre incurs expenditure of Rs 28.7, states incur expenditure of Rs 55. Comparing general (centre plus state) expenditure per elderly across states and UTs, Goa (Rs 446) ranks first, followed by Puducherry (Rs 435), Rajasthan (Rs 272), Haryana (Rs 260) and NCT Delhi (Rs 237). Among low ranking performers are Bihar (Rs 52), Arunachal Pradesh (Rs 48), Meghalaya (Rs 45), Jammu and Kashmir (Rs 38) and Gujarat (Rs 21).

Looking at only centre's expenditure per elderly, Tripura (Rs 66) ranks first, followed by Nagaland (Rs 61), Mizoram (Rs 60), Bihar (Rs 52), Sikkim (Rs 51), and Arunachal Pradesh (Rs 48). Kerala (Rs 10), Gujarat (Rs 10), Punjab (Rs 9), Chandigarh (Rs 8) and Goa (Rs 0.4) are low ranking in term of centre's expenditure per elderly.

For exclusively state level expenditure per elderly per month, Goa (Rs 445) ranks first, followed by Puducherry (Rs 409), Rajasthan (Rs 251), Haryana (Rs 245) and NCT Delhi (Rs 225). Assam (Rs 17), Gujarat (Rs 11), Bihar (Rs 3), Meghalaya (Nil) and Arunachal Pradesh (Nil) rank among the lowest in terms of only state expenditure per elderly per month.

While Goa leads the way with no income criteria and universal old age pension, other states that have a relatively higher income criteria are Haryana (Annual income limit of Rs 2 lakh for couple), Maharashtra (income limit Rs 21,000) and Karnataka (couple income limit Rs 20,000). While most of the states follow the BPL criteria for determining the eligibility, Gujarat performs poorly with lowest personal annual income limit of only Rs 2,400.

Punjab and Kerala, although doing fairly well in terms of state contribution, ranks lower because of less central contribution compared to other high ranking states. Tripura, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand would have not high ranks due to their coverage issues. Among low ranking states Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya would have ranked even lower than Gujarat had it not been for relatively higher coverage provided by centre. Gujarat's poor performance is explained by low fund transfer from centre to state according to BPL, which in turn has low matching contribution by the state as its pension programme is synced with IGNOAPS.

At the state level, Rajasthan has the highest expenditure on old age pension (41 per cent) as proportion of expenditures on pension and retirement benefits for state government employees. This is followed by Puducherry (33 per cent), Goa (33 per cent), Haryana (28 per cent) and Karnataka (21per cent) as top five states. Hence, though Rajasthan ranks lower than Goa and Puducherry in terms of coverage and expenditure per elderly, it ranks better in terms of relative equality of old age security enjoyed by elderly across non-government and organized government sectors.

On the other hand, Gujarat (1.5 per cent), Jammu and Kashmir (1.2 per cent), Nagaland (0.9 per cent), Bihar (0.7per cent), Meghalaya (0per cent) and Arunachal Pradesh (nil) incurred among the lowest expenditure on old age pensions as proportion of expenditures on pension and retirement benefits on government employees. Sikkim (8 per cent) and Tripura (5.3 per cent) although rank comparatively higher in terms of expenditure per elderly, ranks lower in terms of expenditure on old age pension as proportion of expenditure on pension and retirement benefits.
 

​​

Bedside Assistants (Home care) service providers Nov 2014 Hyderabad

Report on Seminar on CSR for the Elderly 15th Nov 2014

A Note on CSR Seminar for the Elderly conducted by AOSC-H and HelpAge

15th November 2014 at Lions Bhavan Secunderabad Telangana

The seminar started at 10:30. Sri B Linga Reddy invited dignitaries to
the dais. On the dais were: Sri RN Mital, Sri Shiv Kumar Rungta, Dr
Vyasamoorthy, Dr Gayatri Subramanyam, Sri IM Bhalla.

Dr T Harish Rao, Minister for Irrigation, Government of Telangana did
not participate as a special session of the Assembly was being held on
that day. Sri S Dass joined, somewhat late, as he rushed directly from
Airport after attending an important meeting in Delhi HQ of HelpAge.

After presentation of bouquets to dignitaries on the dais, lighting of
the lamp was done. Thereafter, Dr Vyasamoorthy welcomed all – people
on the dais, participants groups like representatives from corporate
sector (BHEL, Midhani, Usha, Kabra Gas, Hetero Drugs, IOCL, Premier
Explosives etc), NGOs (HelpAge, Ramakrishna Mutt, Lions Clubs), SCAs,
Federations ( FESCO, TESCCON, TCSCCON), Media (Indian Express, Hans
India etc). He said that this seminar is the first one in India as far
as the topic is concerned and perhaps also the first in the State on
CSR initiated by SCA.

Keynote address by Sri RN Mital was very comprehensive, full of
impressive data to show that senior citizens are neglected by
corporate sector in their CSR activity. After highlighting the
lacunae, in the present CSR dispensation, he suggested some remedial
measures which have become resolutions of the event. Sri Rungta
emphasized that youngsters should be taught to respect the elderly; he
also advised that seniors should not part with their money or
property, in order to assure their own welfare and to avoid abuse.

Smt Gayatri Subramaniam presented the seminar proper. She traced the
history of evolution of CSR concept that has become mandatory under
law. Gandhi's Trusteeship Concept is forerunner to CSR. GOI spends 9
Lakh Crore rupees on developmental activities. But most of it does not
reach the target beneficiaries. Out of 13 Lakh companies registered,
some 11 lakh companies exist now; Some 16000 corporates come under the
purview of CSR. Such companies should spend 2% of their past three
years' average profits for CSR. Company Law has 400+ sections but only
one section – sec 135 – talks of CSR in entirety. Rules for this
section have also been framed. Schedule 7 of rules list activities,
expenditure relating to which, CSR obligation can be fulfilled.
Welfare of senior citizens has been added last year.

Some points that were new to most participants are:

· There is punishment if CSR obligations are not met.

· Liberal interpretation schedule 7 is advised and promoted

· What activities will not come under CSR explained and listed

· Companies that give money, NGOs who are implementers,
Communities that are targets, GOI as monitoring agency are various
arms / segments connected with CSR

Her presentation was precise, highly professional, educative and
interactive. It was listened to by a rapt audience.

Sri Dass spoke next, narrating his experiences in tapping CSR funds.
IT Companies are most reluctant group to open up, he said. HelpAge is
ready to help any SCA in preparing proper project report for
submission to corporate and act as a bridge. He requested NFCSR to
help convincing corporate to include Seniors' welfare in their
policies and budget. Companies are ready to give money for capital
expenses but are reluctant to provide for running / maintenance
expenses as monitoring such activities is a headache. It was with
their help we could ensure participation from CSR mandated companies.

Prof Visweswaraiah read out a two page memorandum addressed to the
State Government; this was to be given to the Chief Minister through
Dr Harish Rao. The memorandum listed several problems of senior
citizens that have not been attended to for the past several years.

Sri PVVGK Murthy read out five resolutions and all were passed.

Sri IM Bhalla, convener of the seminar doubled as Master of
ceremonies; His introduction of speakers and succinct summing up after
every speaker were marvelously professional.

After presentation of mementos for people on the dais, vote of thanks
by Sri Raza Mohamad, the meeting ended with National Anthem.

As against our expectation of about 150 participants, nearly 180
turned up. The hall was overflowing with every inch occupied. The
deepam decoration and Bathakamma were carried by Sobha and her team.
SCAs from districts like Adilabad, Kareemnagar, Nizambad, Nalgonda,
Warangal, Medak, Kurnool and even AP came in large numbers. Some
participants had flown from Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi as well
exclusively for this meeting. A folder containing relevant material
was distributed to all. The lunch after the meeting was appreciated by
many. Seminar was covered in Indian Express and Hans India newspapers.
A team of eight volunteers from HelpAge took active part in all
activities.

Jeevanadhara (OGH), Centre for Research and Development of Ethics
(CRDE), Impex India, TCSCCON sponsored the event with some funds.
Exide Life Insurance Limited and AASARA did not fulfill their
assurances of financial help. However their names were included in our
banner based on their commitments.
=============

Open letter to Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi on KVS Retirees

To
The Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji,

With due respects, I wish to bring to ur kind notice the miserable
plight of KVS PENSIONERS devoid of a major health facility i.e. CGHS
in their old age.

Although the KVS (Kendrya Vidyala Sangathan) retirees avail all
benefits on par with central pensioners, this facility alone was
removed in the year 2002 without any valid reason..However those in
service are allowed the cghs facility while the retirees alone
are denied of this . This grave discrimination has been brought to the
notice of all concerned , but of no avail .All our representations
fell deaf years. Even courts could give no relief .Justice delayed is
justice denied...

We humbly seek your kind intervention . YOU ARE ONLY OUR RAY OF HOPE
You alone can do justice to the needy aged people We do hope and
request u to extend the cghs facility to KVS pensioners,

With warm regards,

Sd|- Satyanarayana Velaverthipati . E.O. KVS Retd.
186, Vasavinagar, Karkhana , Secunderabad-500015. Telangana State.
Mob 9866513434
================

Generic Drugs to be Cheaper from December 1; Chemists for Strict Norms

Read the last line. Hats ff to Krishna District in AP

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

Generic Drugs to be Cheaper from December 1; Chemists for Strict Norms


By Express News Service

Published: 14th November 2014 06:06 AM

Last Updated: 14th November 2014 06:06 AM


VIJAYAWADA: The Krishna District Chemists and Druggists Association has demanded that the government make sure that the terms 'generic' and 'branded generic' be specifically printed on medicines to create awareness among the public.

Addressing a press conference, general secretary of the Association PS Patnaik said that though the government had accorded permission to all pharmaceutical companies for manufacture of generic drugs to provide medicines at cheaper rates to the public, the companies were printing the same price for branded and generic medicines, thus making consumers pay more.

"Most of the doctors prescribe branded medicines but the consumers are sold generic medicines at the prices of branded medicines. This is unfair," Patnaik said.

He urged the government to pass guidelines to pharmaceutical companies to charge different prices for the same medicine produced in branded and generic categories and wanted them to be printed.

Patnaik said the association had demanded that the state government bring pressure on the Medical Council of India (MCI) to instruct doctors to prescribe generic medicines for the patients. This was the easiest way to popularise generic medicines and fulfil the government's objective of making medicines available to people at cheaper prices.

Patnaik said generic medicines would be sold at about 2,000 medical shops across the district. Special posters would be displayed at medical shops where generic medicines were available.

"The government is planning to open 1,000 generic medical shops in the state. As we already have all the necessary infrastructure and qualified manpower, we have decided to sell generic medicines at discounted prices from Dec 1 at all medical shops in Krishna district. Efforts are also being made to sell generic medicines all over AP," Patnaik revealed.

Lay down the law | TNS - The News on Sunday

​Situation in Pakistan regarding senior citizens is slowly improving.

At least one province has senior law.

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

Lay down the law
Shahzada Irfan Ahmed  November 2, 2014 Leave a comment

Lack of interest of the government in law-making for the elderly adds to their problems

Looking into history, it becomes obvious that the governments have not developed policies that may help the older people to remain active and capable of achieving their potential, for themselves and for society. Lawmakers may have made promises to adopt policies to facilitate their needs — but promises are not always kept.

A Senior Citizen Bill was presented in the National Assembly in the 1990s for the first time. However, it remained unattended till last year an Islamabad-based welfare organisation, Pakistan National Council on Ageing (PNCA), took it up. The draft was improved after several consultative meetings.
PNCA, that has retired bureaucrats, along with others, among its office-bearers, proposed changes in existing laws. But there is no breakthrough yet.

Currently, the bill lies with the Commission of Justice and Human Rights and its approval is awaited before it can be presented in the National Assembly.

This is despite the fact that Pakistan is among the 15 countries where population of people over the age of 60 is more than 10 million.

As per a study titled, Ageing in the 21st Century — A celebration and a challenge, around seven per cent of the total population of Pakistan is over 60 with a figure of 11.6 million. "This figure will rise to 43.3 million or 16 per cent population by 2050," says Waqas Qureshi, Communication and Advocacy Officer at HelpAge International in Pakistan. The London-based HelpAge is the only international organisation working on these issues in Pakistan. The study cited above was produced jointly by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and HelpAge International.

Qureshi says there is no significant development regarding such legislation in Balochistan. A senior citizen bill has been introduced in the Sindh Assembly on Oct 27, 2014. In Punjab, the draft law is ready and after input and review by different ministries involved, it is awaiting approval of the cabinet. There is need for active involvement of the ruling party so that it can be taken up on a priority basis. Once the cabinet reviews and approves it, it can be sent to the assembly for approval.

The draft law calls for the formation of a council comprising minister, parliamentarians, retired academics, representatives of NGOs, member of business community, etc, which shall compile data on various aspects of ageing. It shall also formulate policy proposals and action plan concerning senior citizens of urban and rural areas.

The council, when formed, will find solutions for various areas relating to senior citizens, such as financial assistance, medical care, legal aid, recreation, foster care, public transport, funeral and burial services, housing, interest-free soft loans to senior citizens, and any other measures.

The situation is encouraging in KP where the draft was taken up for the first time towards the end of 2013. Within 10 months, the draft has been approved in a cabinet meeting, signed by KP chief minister and sent for approval. Today, KP is the first province to have a Senior Citizens' Ordinance.

Qureshi believes a major role is was played by Older People Associations (OPAs), which are running different projects and advocacy campaigns in the province. "There are about 200 OPAs, comprising older people which are supported by HelpAge," he says. The members of OPAs are also given loans against social collateral so that they can start businesses, especially in rural areas.

Pakistan has also made an international commitment about developing age-friendly cities. In 2007, the World Health Organisation (WHO) arranged a meeting in which 33 countries participated and promised to introduce senior citizen-friendly urban planning. PCNA also participated in this meeting and Capital Development Authority (CDA) signed an MoU with WHO. But even after the passage of so many years there is not much progress in this regard.

Abdul Rub Farooqi, Executive Director, Jaag Welfare Movement, a Punjab-based organisation working on senior citizens says that his organisation has conducted several consultations and seminars for advocacy of Punjab Senior Citizen Bill with parliamentarians. But the progress, he says, has been slow. He adds the bill is in the cabinet division. He says several ministers have made promises to take the bill forward but to no avail.
Farooqi says the government must realise that legal framework is more important than allocating billions in funds like those meant for building old homes in the province. "The government," he says, "must pass the law and set up the council which shall decide whether there is need for old houses or not. It can go for old homes only if the council approves them."

He hopes funds will not be a problem as social welfare allocations, Bait ul Maal funds and donations could be used to provide social security cover and other facilities to older people. The corporate sector can also direct their funds in this direction. "Why older people cannot be categorised as vulnerable?" he asks.

http://tns.thenews.com.pk/lay-law-2/#.VFb0STSUe9s

​The author is a staff reporter and can be reached at shahzada.irfan@gmail.com

​

Fwd: [sss-global] AP to supply generic medicine through 1,000 stores

AP to supply generic medicine through 1,000 stores

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/ap-to-supply-generic-medicine-through-1000-stores/article6541904.ece

Government proposes to introduce six super specialities at the Vishaka Institute of Medical Sciences

The Andhra Pradesh government plans to set up a chain of 1,000 stores to supply branded generic medicines at one-fourth of the price. The A.P. Medical Infrastructure Development Corporation will procure a wide range of medicines for supply, said Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas.

Dr. Srinivas told presspersons here on Tuesday that it would take at least three months for establishing the stores after the Chief Minister's approval. The modalities of allotting shops – to unemployed youth or others – have to be worked out. The whole idea was to come to the rescue of the common man who was unable to afford costly medicines for ailments like diabetes and hypertension.

The government proposed to introduce six super specialities at the Vishaka Institute of Medical Sciences for which recruitment process was already set in motion. In the government hospitals at Guntur and Kakinada, maternity and child welfare units would be set up at a cost of Rs. 20 crore each. Under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana, 12 super speciality wings would be set up in Anantapur and Vijayawada at a cost of Rs. 150 crore each. Site for setting up the unit was already selected at Anantapur and shortly it would be done in Vijayawada too. A proposal to set up similar super speciality wings in Kurnool and Srikakulam had been sent to the Government of India, Dr. Srinivas said.

He said it was also proposed to open a cardio-thoracic unit in the Guntur hospital under PPA mode. A MoU for this would be signed soon. Further the government planned to conduct medical examination of children in the age group of 6 to 10 years twice a year under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya scheme.

Biometric system

Another proposal was to introduce biometric system in all government hospitals for doctors, para medical and administrative staff. Hospital development committees were being restructured. Rs. 80 crore would be earmarked for hospital development fund for upgradation of district area hospitals. For convenience of patients' attendants shelters with bathrooms would be provided in hospitals. Chief Minister wanted the government hospitals to be improved so as to access 60 per cent of Arogyasree scheme funds , Dr. Srinivas said.

He said health cards for employees would be issued on October 30 at a function at Ravindra Bharathi. The Chief Minister had also okayed issue of health cards for journalists from December 1. All the family members of journalists, including parents, would be covered under the scheme, the Minister said.

​=================

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Pope Francis: meeting with elderly in St Peter's Square Vatican Radio

28/09/2014

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Pope Francis: meeting with elderly in St Peter's Square Vatican Radio

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(Vatican Radio) A brilliantly sunlit St. Peter's Square was the scene Sunday morning for a great gathering of senior citizens – and especially grandparents – who had come to Rome to be with Pope Francis, to exchange life stories and hear the Holy Father's reflections on the importance, the struggles, and the beauty of life in the old age. People of every state in life were present: elderly clergy and religious, including Pope-emeritus Benedict XVI; single people; married couples, including a couple of elderly refugees from Iraq, Mubarak and Aneesa Hano, Christians from the country's north who have been forced to flee their home by Islamic State militants; and widows and widowers.

"Old age, in particular, is a time of grace," said Pope Francis, "in which the Lord will renew His call: He calls us to preserve and transmit the faith, calls us to pray, especially to intercede; calls us to be close to those who maybe in need." The Holy Father went on to warn against losing sight of and appreciation for the inestimable worth of those, who are in the twilight of life. "A people that does not have care for [the elderly], that does not treat them well, has no future: such a people loses its memory and  its roots."

The key role of grandparents in passing down the faith to a new generation was another major theme of Pope Francis' address, and the central the theme of remarks made by the founder of the Catholic Grandparents Association, Catherine Wiley. Click here for our exclusive interview with Mrs. Wiley.
Please find Vatican Radio's English translation of the Holy Father's remarks, below.

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Please find Vatican Radio's English translation of the Holy Father's remarks, below.

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Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

I thank you for coming in such large numbers! And thank you for your festive welcome. Today this is your celebration. It is our celebration! I thank His Excellency Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, President Pontifical Council For the Family and all those who have prepared this ceremony.
I listened to the testimonies of some of you  and was struck by the common experiences of many seniors and grandparents. But one was different: that of the brethren from Erbil (i.e. is the largest city and capital of the Kurdistan region of Iraq). They  escaped violent persecution in Iraq. To all of them we say together, "thank you" It is really special that you have come to be with us here. This is a gift to the Church. In turn, we offer you our sympathy, our prayers and practical help. It is inhuman to abuse Elders just as it is inhuman to abuse children. But God will not abandon you. He  is with you! With God's help, you are and will continue to be the memory for your people; and also for us, the great family of the Church. Thank you!

These brethren here testify that even in the most difficult tests, the elderly who have faith are like trees that continue to

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 bear fruit. And this is true even in the most ordinary of situations where, there may be other forms of temptations and other forms of discrimination. We have heard some such witnesses today.
Old age, in particular, is a time of grace, in which the Lord will renew his call: calls us to preserve and transmit the faith, calls us to pray, especially to intercede; calls us to be close to those who maybe in need. The elderly – grandparents [especially] – have a capacity to understand the most difficult situations: a great ability – and when they pray for these situations, their prayer is strong. It is powerful.

To Grandparents, who have been blessed to see their children's children (cf. Ps 128.6), to them are entrusted an even greater task: to convey the experience of life, the story of a family, the story of a community or even of a people; to share with simplicity their wisdom and the same faith which is the most precious legacy! Blessed are those families who have grandparents nearby! The grandfather is in a way twice a father and the grandmother is twice a mother.
But it is not always  the case that the elderly, the grandfather, grandmother has a family that can accommodate them or upon which they can count. So we welcome the houses for the elderly ... so that they can truly be homes, not prisons! We hope that these homes will truly serve the interests of older persons and not the interests of someone else! There must never be institutions where the elderly are forgotten, hidden or neglected. I feel close to the many elderly people who live in these institutions, and I think with gratitude of those who go to visit them and take care of them. Homes for the elderly should be the "lungs" of humanity in a country, in a neighborhood, in a parish; "sanctuaries" of humanity where those who are old and weak are cared for and taken care of like a brother or a sister. It's good for you to go and visit senior citizens! Look at young people: sometimes seem miserable and sad: Go visit an elderly person and you will become joyful!

But there is also the reality of the abandonment of the elderly: how many times we discard older people with attitudes that are akin to a hidden form of euthanasia! The culture of discarding human beings hurts our world. We discard children, young people and older people under the pretense of maintaining a "balanced",  economic system the center of which is no longer the human person, but money. We are all called to counter this culture of poisonous waste!
We Christians, together with all people of good will, are called to patiently build a more diverse, more welcoming, more humane, more inclusive society, that does not need to discard the weak in body and mind. On the contrary we need a society which measures its success on how the weak are cared for.
As Christians and as citizens, we are called to envision, with imagination and wisdom, ways of dealing with this challenge. A people who do not take care for grandparents, does not treat them well has no future: such a people loses its memory and  its roots. But beware: you too have the responsibility to keep alive these roots in yourself with prayer, the reading of the Gospel and  the works of mercy. It is only is such a manner that we will remain as living trees, that even in old age will not stop bearing fruit.

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/09/28/pope_francis_meeting_with_elderly_in_st_peters_square/1107479

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