CONCLAVE TO PRESS FOR ELDERS' DEMANDS TODAY

Conclave to press for elders' demands today

In one of the biggest ever convention of Senior Citizens, at least 10,000 elderly people are likely to meet and press for their demands over various issues to the Government on Sunday at Talkatora Stadium. The various demands of the federation under the banner of Senior Citizens Federation of India would be raised during the meet. The conclave would be addressed by senior political leaders, including BJP president Nitin Gadkari, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and former Union Ministers Vijay Goel and Anant Kumar. The convention is likely to be attended by about 10,000 senior citizens and 105 senior citizens associations.

Former Union Minister and founder of the Senior Citizen Federation of India, Vijay Goel said, "The current pension of `1000 per month is not sufficient for senior citizens. In this period of spiraling costs a thousand rupees cannot take care of a person and want a serious effort towards the care of senior citizens." The National Policy for Older Persons (NPOP), 1999, declared financial security, healthcare and housing for senior citizens. It has not been implemented so far and across the country NGOs working in the area of elderly care welcome the policy and demanded its implementation.

The idea to form the organisation was mooted in 2008 in course of meeting of senior citizens, Goel told The Pioneer. The main demands of the federation would be formation of a National Commission for Senior Citizen, on the lines of National Commission for Women, National Commission for Minorities, etc. Establishment of recreation centre in all colonies and localities and granting free medical insurance for all the senior citizens above the age of 75 years. Monthly pension should be increased by `1,000 to `2,000 per month. The millions of rupees are lying unclaimed in banks, belonging to deceased senior citizen. It should be transferred to a corpus and used for their benefits are some of the demands and issues of the senior citizens.

In order to make the federation work in a more organised way, Goel and his team have been visiting parks and public places every morning for the last three months and conducting more than 100 informal meetings. "Due to these meetings, thousands of senior citizens filled up form and indicated their desire to join the federation. The Government facilities for them are almost non-existent. Therefore they need help and empathy and federation would work in that direction," Goel said.

-- http://www.dailypioneer.com/360567/Conclave-to-press-for-elders-demands-today.html

From: V.RAGHAVENDRARAO of sss-global

Ruparelia interviewed by Sailesh on Seniors' problems

Activist septuagenarian Ruparelia blasts Maharashtra government on neglecting senior citizens.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ7PTdFK3k0&feature=youtu.be

He has pointed out negligence in terms of total governmental apathy, hospitals not giving free treatment to o senior citizens despite orders in 2006, problems with auto rickshaws, inaccessible railways and public places etc. Acceptance of NPOP is the most important demand in Maharashtra. Many govt departments are not aware of FESCOM?

Watch this powerful video by sri Sailesh of Silver innings.

Memorandum to CM Andhra Pradesh

THis is a copy of the memorandum sent to Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh by Sri V Nageswara Rao Secretary General APSCCON. it will be submitted in perso too on 16th August if we get an appointment. Last year, try what we may, we just could not get an appointment with the then Chief Minister. Let us see if Kiran is better!

Vyasamoorthy

SCNSD- Chief coordinator

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

Now the Letter proper

Secunderabad,

1^st August, 2011

To

Shri.N.Kiran Kumar Reddy,

Hon. Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh,

‘C’ Block, A.P. Secretariat,

Hyderabad – 500 003

Sir,

Sub:- Submission of Memorandum from Senior Citizens of Andhra Pradesh for Redressal of grievances

We are a confederation of Senior Citizen Welfare Associations of all the districts in Andhra

Pradesh having a network.and are a registered body.We work exclusively for the welfare and wellbeing of Senior citizens of our State and we are affiliated to the All India Senior Citizens Condederation, Mumbai.

We appreciate the good gesture of the Government of Andhra Pradesh for adopting the National Policy of older persons known as N.P.O.P formulated by Government of India in 1999 and making efforts to implement it. The Andhra Pradesh State Government have also published a State Plan of action on the above policy in the year 2004.

Though the plan of action of the Government generated feelings of happiness among the senior citizens of the State, its implementation continued to be very slow and on some issues very pathetic . We are submitting this memorandum on behalf of over 60 lakhs of Senior Citizens particularly the indigent ones in the State. We are only requesting the Government to implement what was alreadyaccepted in principle by the Government and no fresh demands are put up.

The issues that are causing hardships to the elders or as follows:

. ABSENCE OF INSURANCE COVERAGE TO THE MIDDLE CLASS SENIOR CITIZENS (above BPL, but below tax liability):- Clause (m) of page 31 of A.P. State Plan of Action says “develop health insurance package covering different income segments (of senior citizens). Packages catering to low income groups will be entitled to State Subsidy” The citizens of Andhra Pradesh are fortunate to have the unique health scheme of AROGYASREE, but the senior citizens above the BPL group are denied of this scheme. About 90% of the families in the state (inclusive of senior citizens as well as journalists) are already covered under AROGYASREE or other health insurance. And pensioners are covered by reimbursement.Only the remaining 10% are left out, In the absence of such coverage senior citizens of this segment are dropping in to the BPL category, because of the exhorbitant cost of medical care which they cannot afford in this inflationary economy. This facility was requested in our earlier representations also to the C.M and Minister of Health,of Government of A. but did not get any response.We earnestly request that AROGYASREE may be extended to this catergory and if need be a part of the premium may be charged to them.

2. OLD AGE PENSIONS:- We are grateful to the Government for implementing the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme, but the distressing fact is that the Government is paying only Rs.200/- for the Senior Citizen and his spouse. It is so inadequate in the present context that with this pension they could procure food for only for one day in a month and for the rest of the days they are to the mercy of God or others. We learn that, even this amount is paid by the Government of India.We again would like to bring to your notice that the A.P State Plan of Action, Page 31 says “revision of rate of monthly pension so as to take care of Inflationary trends” It mayalso not be out of place to mention that the Government of Tamil Nadu is paying Rs.1000/- and several other states are paying between Rs500 to Rs.1000 as old age pension.We therefore pray that the pension may be increased to Rs500 per person so that the poor elders may have at least one meal a day.Further the Govt of India have announced the age to be eligible for a senior

Citizen as 60 years instead of 65.Similar instructions reducing the age of eligibility for senior citizens from 65 to 60 years may please be issued in our state also.

3. CONCESSIONS IN RTC BUSES:-

a. Page 33 point 1 under RTC buses of A.P State Plan of Action says. quote “provide fare concessions to senior citizens in buses” We have been requesting for long on this issue, but nothing is granted so far either by the Government of Andhra Pradesh or R.T.C. In India, at least 10 States are granting concession ranging from 25% to 100% to senior citizens in State Buses. We therefore request that maximum possible concession in R.T.C may be granted, so that the senior citizens (poor) who travel only out of necessity for medical treatment, religious or other ceremonies and not for holidaying.

b. AMENITIES IN BUSES:- At present only 3 seats are reserved in buses which is inadequate as it is often seen that elders of age 70 – 80 are also obliged to stand. Atleast 6 seats may be reserved and if they remain vacant others are in any case occupying them.

c. In buses, steps are too high and they should be suitably modified to facilitate boarding.

4. NON / INEFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF SENIOR CITIZENS WELFARE ACT, 2007:

-

It is gratifying that the Government of Andhra Pradesh have promptly notified the above Act which to a large extent benefits those senior citizens neglected by their children. From the number of cases registered in the Tribunals and awards given (for maintenance allowance) in the Districts, it can be seen that in most of the Districts, the number is either NIL or extremely poor. This shows that either the Act is not implemented at all or not implemented effectively. It is learnt that the issue of G.O containing the Rules for implementation is pending for more than two years and due to the absence of which the Act is not implemented properly, As this act helps the neglected parents to have sustenance, urgent action is prayed for immediate and effective implementation of the Act.

5. AMENITIES IN PUBLIC PLACES:-

a. It is a common sight that senior citizens are made to stand for a long time in the Q at e.seva centers, bus counters, ration shops, banks, govt or quasi govt organized programmes, other bill paying counters, etc., we request that suitable instructions be issued to all the officials concerned to have a separate counters / Q for senior citizens or atleast give a privilege to elders to bye pass the Q, so that they may not physically suffer for long time for getting the work done.

b. Similarly posters or other appropriate bill boards may be arranged at all Government and Quasi Government organizations urging the people to “respect the elders” “Help the Elders” etc., and create public awareness of their responsibility towards elderly.

6. :Last but not the least but actually the most important issue is

FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL PLAN OF OLDER PERSONS:- There are several provisions in the above plan formulated by the Government of India and generously adopted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, as early as 2004. We pray that what all has been said in the above plan may be implemented in letter and spirit, for which we the senior citizens of A.P., (amounting to 9% of the population, 15% of the voters and 25% of the potential and effective voters) will remain ever grateful to the Government and to the present generation

Thanking you and eagerly expecting a favourable response to our request.

Yours Sincerely,

V.Nageswara Rao Prof.V.Visweswariah Ch.Parameswara Reddy,

Secretary General Associate President President

Dr Kinjawadekar talks of governmental neglect of senior citizens.

Here is a link to a video where Dr SP Kinjawadekar is interviewed on the forthcoming Senior Citizens National Solidarity day. He neatly explains how the protest day last year on 16th August was a phenomenal success. The main reason why it was a such a success (more institutions than we imagined participated) is that people were really frustrated and were waiting for an opportunity to express it. This year, he explains, in his distinct voice, that the emphasis is towards state level demands. What we propose to do and how Maharashtra is gearing up are spelt out. I personally likes his answer to the last question by Sailesh: What do you, as a common rural senor citizen citizen feel about the present neglect by government - angry, frustrated etc? Listen to him yourself by watching this video. The little bit you can do is to tweet/ re-tweet / blog /forward / comment etc about this link.

http://twitter.com/#!/vyasamoorthy/status/99401342975614978

SCNSD - Wonder what this means?

I love this poster from Sailesh Mishra. He is doing a great job as always.

We are striving to bring all senior citizens together -- a section of the society forming nearly 10% of the Indian population and making a massive 22% of 'effective voter population'. They are a neglected lot by Central and most State governments. Hence the solodarity day on 16th August 2011 being oberved through out India.