Senior citizen discounts in Delhi

I do not know how I missed this news of last year. Can someone from Delhi confirm the current practice? Has this been successful? WE have a couple of members from "we care" mentioned in this news.  PVM ====================  Grandmother of discounts, from eateries - Hotel federation plans concessions for customers who bring along senior citizens CITHARA PAUL Old is gold New Delhi, Sept. 25 (2009) : Next time you dine out, take your grandparents along. Apart from some quality family time, you may gain a few concessions. The Federation of Hotels and Restaurants of India, the apex body of the hospitality industry, is planning discounts for customers who are accompanied by senior citizens. "The idea is to encourage families to bring along the elderly who are normally left at home while the others dine out,'' said federation secretary-general Deepak Sharma. "We want to give it a try in the metros first, then we will extend it to the smaller cities." Sharma said the federation's state chapters had been asked to discuss the proposal, and the final decision — as well as the discount percentage — would be left to individual restaurants. Some eateries in Chandigarh, which has a large population of well-to-do elderly, has already started the scheme, offering 15 to 20 per cent discounts. If the elderly come alone, they are still entitled to the discount, but if they come in a group, the discount will apply to the overall bill. No documents showing age are likely to be needed. To make the plan a success, the industry is also thinking of altering menus, offering more vegetarian and diabetic-friendly diets. Such discounts are common in the West, and the suggestion to introduce them in India had come from NGOs working for the elderly. "The elderly are the most affected by the social inclination towards the nuclear family. Even when they live with their children, they are rarely made a part of family outings," said Uma Ganapathy of We Care. "If the hotels come forward with this kind of proposal, the young generation will be encouraged to take their grandparents out for lunch or dinner. It will also mean more business for the hotel industry." Ganapathy, however, insisted that restaurants had to be a lot more sensitive towards elderly customers. She cited studies to suggest that it was very important for elderly diners to be made to feel they were valued customers. "It will be individual attention rather than speed of service that will satisfy elderly people. It is necessary for (restaurant) staff to understand this,'' she said. Sharma said the hotel industry planned to sensitise staff to the requirements of the aged. "Their requirements may be different from those of the rest, and staff will have to learn how to provide a warm and friendly atmosphere and make them feel important." The proposal has enthused many. "My naani (grandmother) has never dined out with us despite many requests because she fears she would not be comfortable in a hotel," said Anshika Sharma, 15, of Karol Bagh. "But if there are going to be elderly-sensitive arrangements, I will make sure she comes out with us the next time." "I rarely dine out with my children despite their requests since I have never enjoyed it," said G.S. Amrohi, a septuagenarian who lives in Eastern Kailash. "But if there is a discount offer, I may go with them the next time." Ganapathy, however, warned that families too needed to be sensitive. "There will be a tendency among the younger generation to use the elderly as a discount coupon,'' she said.

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

NPOP - Review Committee stresses National Commission for the Elderly

Govt plans panel for elderly

CITHARA PAUL

New Delhi, July 4: The government will constitute a National Commission for the Elderly with some powers similar to that of a court in a move that is part of efforts to give teeth to the National Elderly Policy. "The commission will be a one-stop arrangement capable of addressing all issues related to the elderly. Once it is in place, the elderly will not have to knock on several doors,'' said an official of the social justice ministry, which is piloting the initiative. The commission will be part of the 1999 National Policy for Old Persons, now being reviewed. It will be a statutory body — like the women's commission — with the authority to summon individuals, and will have state-level units. It will also offer training to sensitise police to the elderly. The Centre has set up a committee to review the policy on old persons, with former National Women's Commission chief Mohini Giri as its chairperson. The panel has been asked to propose amendments in the light of new demographic and socio-economic trends. The committee will also review the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, which makes it mandatory for children to look after their parents. "The act was a little unrealistic in the Indian scenario as it is rare for an Indian parent to file complaints against their offspring. What is required are measures to prevent the elderly from becoming penniless,'' said a member of the committee. Besides the quasi-judicial commission, there is a proposal to have at least one officer in every police station exclusively to handle complaints by the elderly and to sensitise the entire force to such issues, the ministry official said. The committee will also ask state governments to take steps for quick disposal of property-transfer and property-tax cases involving the elderly. Such matters are settled after years, many after the senior citizens have died in penury. Measures are also planned to ensure better healthcare. The suggestions being thought of include geriatric wards in every medical college, geriatric specialist in every district hospital and a health assistant in every panchayat. The 2001 census put the number of senior citizens (60 and above) at 7.9 crore, or 7.5 per cent of the population. The National Commission on Population has said senior citizens will comprise 8.3 per cent of the population by 2011, 9.3 per cent by 2016, 10.7 per cent by 2021 and 12.4 per cent by 2026. ===========