NEWS ITEM 1
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From TOI 7th FEb 2014
Parliamentary panel recommends increasing retirement age to 65
PTI | Feb 7, 2014, 09.15 PM IST
NEW DELHI: A parliamentary committee has recommended that retirement
age should be increased from 60 years to 65 years, citing the increase
in ageing population and their productivity.
In its report tabled in Lok Sabha, the committee also advocated a host
of benefits to the geriatric population, including upping their income
tax exemption limit and setting up of super-speciality hospitals in
all states exclusively for them.
"The committee would like the ministry (social justice and
empowerment) to seriously consider the various options which would
include reviewing the age of retirement, re-employment opportunities
for the retired persons... and setting up a directorate of employment
and rehabilitation for senior citizens," it said.
It asked the government to look at the continuity of employment up to
65 years of age.
The standing committee headed by Hemanand Biswal noted that the
population of senior citizens is expected to rise to 12.4% by 2026
against 7.5% in 2001 and the numbers of those above 60 and 80 years of
age would see a whopping increase of 326% and 700% respectively by
2050.
The senior citizens should get a pension of at least Rs 1,000 per
month, it said, adding that the criteria for it may be universalised
for all non-income tax payers.
It has also reiterated its earlier recommendation that old-age homes
be set up in all districts of the country.
It has urged the finance ministry to periodically raise income tax
exemption keeping in view the increasing cost of living and
prohibitive cost of healthcare for senior citizens.
The committee also recommended that the government should try to adopt
best practices from the Scandinavian countries, which are noted for
their welfare facilities for the elderly population.
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NEWS ITEM 2
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Raise age of retirement to 65: House panel
Subodh Ghildiyal,TNN | Feb 8, 2014, 01.59 AM IST
NEW DELHI: A parliamentary panel has urged the Centre to raise the
retirement age to 65 years, noting that growing lifespan was adding to
the need for "productive ageing".
The recommendation for increase in retirement age comes with a
reminder that senior citizens would form 12.4% of the total population
in 2026 from 7.5% in 2001.
"The committee feels that with the increase in life expectancy and
relatively better state of health of people, the government needs to
look at continuity of employment up to 65 years," said the report of
standing committee of Parliament on social justice and empowerment
tabled on Friday.
It also recommended that government look at greater post-retirement
opportunities for senior citizens and create greater financial support
for the elderly by hiking the old age pension to Rs 1,000 per month
from the present Rs 200 for those above 60 years and Rs 500 for those
above 80 years.
While suggesting immediate redressal for the ageing population, the
panel sought to train the government's focus on the 60-plus group by
pointing out that its growing numbers would be a serious challenge in
health and social care.
Specifically, it underlined that as per population projections, the
80-plus bloc, the most-vulnerable group, would see a sharper rise in
numbers.
The urgency of parliamentarians towards senior citizens comes amid
growing global realization that increasing lifespan is creating a new
demographic bloc requiring state intervention.
Seeking government attention, the committee noted that senior citizens
comprised 7.5% of the total population in 2001 but their share is
likely to increase to 12.4% in 2026. Importantly, UN projections say
while India's population will rise by 55% by 2050, that of 60-plus
would increase by 326% and that of 80-plus would go up by 700%.
Given the rising challenge, the panel headed by Hemanand Biswal found
the government response inadequate, noting that "issue of rapid
population ageing in the country has not received due attention of the
government and the community at large".
The panel said special focus should be on the octogenarian bloc. "This
age group is the most vulnerable and runs the risk of getting
dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson disease, depression in their
older years," it said, and asked the Centre to constitute an expert
group of relevant government departments to devise specialized
healthcare programme for them.
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NEWS ITEM 3
Panel moots more financial support for senior citizens
Subodh Ghildiyal,TNN | Feb 8, 2014, 03.43 AM IST
NEW DELHI: A parliamentary committee has recommended that retirement
age should be increased from 60 years to 65 years, citing the increase
in ageing population and their productivity.
It also recommended that the government look at greater
post-retirement opportunities for senior citizens and create greater
financial support for the elderly by hiking the old age pension to Rs
1,000 per month from the present Rs 200 for those above 60 years and
Rs 500 for those above 80 years.
While suggesting immediate redressal for the ageing population, the
panel sought to train the government's focus on the 60-plus group by
pointing out that its growing numbers would be a serious challenge in
health and social care.
Specifically, it underlined that as per population projections, the
80-plus bloc, the most-vulnerable group, would see a sharper rise in
numbers.
The urgency of parliamentarians towards senior citizens comes amid
growing global realization that increasing lifespan is creating a new
demographic bloc requiring state intervention.
Seeking government attention, the committee noted that senior citizens
comprised 7.5% of the total population in 2001 but their share is
likely to increase to 12.4% in 2026. Importantly, UN projections say
while India's population will rise by 55% by 2050, that of 60-plus
would increase by 326% and that of 80-plus would go up by 700%.
Given the rising challenge, the panel headed by Hemanand Biswal found
the government response inadequate, noting that "issue of rapid
population ageing in the country has not received due attention of the
government and the community at large".
The panel said special focus should be on the octogenarian bloc. "This
age group is the most vulnerable and runs the risk of getting
dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson disease, depression in their
older years," it said, and asked the Centre to constitute an expert
group of relevant government departments to devise specialized
healthcare programme for them.
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Dr P Vyasamoorthy
President: Society for Serving Seniors
30 Gruhalakshmi Colony, Secunderabad 500015. LL 040-27846631 / Mobile:
9490804278
For Internet Free Telugu Radio
http://www.shoutcast.com/Internet-Radio/Telugu
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