SENIOR CITIZENS - MINISTRY ASKS STATES TO SENSITIVE POLICE

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Senior citizens: Ministry asks states to sensitise police

PTI | 03:08 PM,Aug 05,2012

New Delhi, Aug 5 (PTI) Promoting safety of senior citizens, the Social Justice Ministry has asked all state governments to conduct programs to sensitise their police and administration on providing security to the elderly. In a letter addressed to all the Chief Ministers, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Mukul Wasnik has told them about the various programs which can conducted by them for promoting safety and security of senior citizens. The Ministry has also informed the states that 'Security of Senior Citizens' has been identified as the theme for this year's International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) on October 1. "I shall be grateful if you could please issue instructions for its observance in a befitting manner at state, district and block level also. This could be done by holding suitable programs and activities pertaining to the identified theme in addition to other activities that are organised each year," Wasnik wrote in the letter. In his letter, the Minister recommended programs for "sensitisation of police as well as Civil Administration about the security of life and property of senior citizens" and conducting "awareness campaigns to spread education about the concerns and issues of elderly people". Wasnik has also asked the states to create awareness for ensuring financial security and stability of senior citizens and ensuring availability of facilities of reverse mortgage of property to ensure regular income for them. The Minister suggested that the states organise these programs with involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions, municipal bodies, Nehru Yuva Kendras, educational institutions and NGOs for maximum benefits to the senior citizens. (More)

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Sent by V.RAGHAVENDRA RAO

EPF Pension

This problem has been plaguing Indian Industrial sector retirees in
private sector (perhaps public sector too) for many decades. Recently
AISCCON has requested Bharat Pensioners Samaj to take up this issue
with appropriate authorities. Nice to see Sashi Tharoor supporting us.

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Shashi Tharoor, Lok Sabha member from Thiruvananthapuram, has urged
the Centre to enhance the pension under the Employees Provident Fund
(EPF) scheme to at least Rs 5,000.

The existing minimum pension of the scheme was "totally inadequate"
for over 3.5 million under the scheme who had spent their working life
in the most productive sectors of the national economy, he said in a
statement today.

"There are cases of pensioners with 40 years' service receiving Rs 550
a month. The basic pension should be raised to at least Rs 5,000 a
month," the former Union minister said.

He also wanted the Dearness Relief linkage to be provided on the
pension as granted to all other pensioners. Otherwise, the scheme
would not serve any purpose since the increase in cost of living would
not be accounted for, he said.

The government should initiate immediate measures to increase the
corpus fund of the scheme, he said and suggested that more
establishments in all sectors including the IT sector be brought under
the ambit of the scheme.

Tharoor wanted a thorough review of the scheme to be undertaken to
update various provisions and benefits under it.
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http://www.indianexpress.com/news/raise-epf-pension-to-rs-5-000-s-tharoor/981922/