On the occasion of Senior Citizens Protest Day on August 16th, 2013, 35 – 40 representatives of Janaseva Foundation, ASCOP, FESCOM, ILC-I, Chaitanya Hasya Club, Bharatiya Yog Sansthan, Senior Citizen's wing of Bharati Vidyapeeth and University of Pune had a meeting with Mrs. Vaishali Bankar, Mayor of Pune and Additional Commissioner of Pune Municipal Corporation Shri Rajendra Jagtap, from 3.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. at Standing Committee Hall of Pune Municipal Corporation. As the municipal commissioner had to go to Mumbai he deputed the Additional Commissioner. We acquainted the mayor and the additional commissioner with the problems faced by the elderly and handed over to them the list of our demands and also requested them to make the city of Pune an Age Friendly City. Both the mayor and the additional commissioner listened to all the problems faced by senior citizens and promised to do everything within their power to solve the problems of senior citizens and to make their lives easier.
They also assured representatives of their cooperation to upcoming World Senior Citizens Day Celebration Programme – Anand Melava arranged on 3rd October 2013 at Shri Ganesh Kala Krida Manch, Nehru Stadium, Swargate, Pune, by Janaseva Foundation, Pune Municipal Corporation, University of Pune, Govt. of Maharashtra, Bharati Vidyapeeth, ILC-I, ASCOP, FESCOM, Pensioners Association, Chaitanya Hasya Club, Bharatiya Yog Sansthan etc.
Regards,
Dr. Vinod Shah, MD
Chairman
Janaseva Foundation, Pune
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
News from Janaseva PUne
Greetings from Janaseva Foundation, Pune!
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Fwd: [sss-global] Senior citizens demand maintenance grant
Senior citizens demand maintenance grant
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 25 2013: As a part of the national protest day, the senior citizens of Manipur staged a sit-in-protest against non-provision of "'maintenance grant'' at Chingamakhong Bus Stand here today.
Talking to media persons on the sidelines of the protest demonstration, ex-Secretary of All Manipur Senior Citizens' Welfare Association B Sanamacha said that the Government must take up welfare measures for the senior citizens.
|
The senior citizens have been demanding implementation of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 and also increase in pension amount of IGNOAP and RSBY.
The National Protest Day started from August 16 and would continue till August 31, he added.
V.RAGHAVENDRA RAO,
2142,CALLE MESA ALTA,
HILL CREST APARTMENTS,
MILPITAS-C.A.95035-7855.
USA.
Hello-518-261-7075.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
REpresentation to Transport Minister AP, from HYderabad on Protest Day
Sri.Botcha Satyanarayana, Secunderabad,
Hon.Minister for Transport,
A.P.Secretariat,
14th August,2013 Govt of Andhra Pradesh,
Hyderabad
Dear Sir,
Sub: Concessions in ASRTC buses
for senior citizens
We are indeed thankful to you
and the APSRTC for actively considering
the issue of concessions to senior citizens in bus fares of APSRTC buses. You
were generous to make an announcements in November 2011 and subsequently that the senior
citizens would be granted 50% concession in bus fares .The 70 lakh senior citizen population particularly
the poor living in sub urban areas and villages felt happy that their long
standing demand was conceded.
But we regret to bring to your notice that no formal approval from the
Govt has come so far. We also learnt that the APSRTC board had approached the
govt to grant 25% concession to all the senior citizens on all days and full
concession on four national festival days and that the entire expense involved
by granting these concessions would be met by APSRTC only, as per their letter
quoted above .The matter therefore appears to be pending with the Govt the past
3 months Sir, We are deeply disappointed over the delay.
This concession would greatly benefit the poor living in villages and
sub urban areas as in these days of high cost of living, even a small
concession would help them a lot. All the senior citizen welfare Associations
have been requesting the state govt for this concession for the past 5 years
and even the State plan of action on National policy on Older persons published
by the government in 2004 on page 33
under APSRTC says, quote “Provide fare concessions to senior citizens in buses”
You are also aware that in many states bus concessions to senior
citizens ranging between 25% to 75% are already being granted. We therefore appeal to you to get
50% concession granted for senior citizens which is a long standing demand, for
which the entire senior citizen population will remain thankful to you.
Yours faithfully,
V.Nageswara Rao)
Secretary General, Andhra
Pradesh Senior citizens Confederation
On behalf of Joint action
Committee of Senior citizen Welfare associations of Greater Hyderabad
behalf of Joint Action
Committee of Sr.Citizen Associations of
Hyderabad. Welfare Associations of greater Hyderabad.
Representation to CM AP from Hyderabad
JOINT ACTION COMMITTEE
OF SENIOR CITIZENS WELFARE ASSOCIATIONS
OF GREATER HYDERABAD
( a unified committee consisting of APSCCON, FAPSCO, TCSCCON, HELPAGE, AASARA and other
Associations)
Address for
correspondence Plot.No.75, Madhavapuri Colony, Sainikpuri, Secunderabad –
500094, Ph.No: 9490453036
Secunderabad,
14tht August, 2013
To
The Hon. Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh,
Govt. of Andhra Pradesh,
‘C’ Block, A.P. Secretariat,
Hyderabad – 500 003
Sir,
Sub Memorandum from Senior
Citizen Associations of Andhra Pradesh for Redressal of grievances.
We appreciate the
gesture of the Government of Andhra Pradesh for adopting the National Policy of
older persons( 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. We are submitting this memorandum
on behalf of over 80 lakhs of Senior Citizens particularly the indigent in the
State. We are only requesting the
Government to implement what was accepted by the Government of A.P. in principle.
We and the various associations
working for the welfare of the poor senior citizens have submitted several
representations at different levels of administration during the last 4 years
and have even expressed disappointment by observing protest days also over the unsympathetic attitude of the
government. Unfortunately uptill now ,there
has been no positive response.
The
issues that are causing hardships to the elders or as follows:
1. PROVISION
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 on NPOP for senior citizens 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 BPL
citizens of Andhra Pradesh are fortunate to have the unique health
scheme AROGYASREE, but the senior citizens above the BPL group are deprived of
this scheme. About 80% of the families (including pensioner are already covered under either
the AROGYASREE or other health insurance.
In the absence of such coverage senior citizens of middle class are dropping into the BPL category, because
of the exhorbitant cost of medical care. We request that the Arogyasree or
other subsidized medical scheme may be extended to all the middle class senior
citizens even by making them meet a part of the premium.
2
OLD AGE PENSIONS:- We are
thankful 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/- per family for the Senior
Citizens.It is so inadequate in the present context that with this pension they
could procure food for only one day in a
month. We learn that, even this amount
is paid by the Government of India. We
therefore pray that this amount may be increased to Rs1000/- per person. In
this connection, A.P State Plan of Action, Page 31 says “revision of rate of
monthly pension so as to take care of Inflationary trends. It may not be out of place to mention that
the Government of Tamil Nadu is paying Rs.1000/- as old age pension.
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
this for a long time, but no concessions have been
granted either by the Government of A.P.
or by the R.T.C. even though the transport minister made press/public statements that 50%
concession would be given. In India, at
least 5 to 6 States granting concession ranging from 25% to 75% to senior
citizens. We therefore request that a
concession of 50% in R.T.C may be granted,
as such concession would give some relief to the senior citizens (poor) who travel by
buses only out of necessity for medical treatment, religious or other
ceremonies,
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 made to stand while travelling in buses. Atleast 6 seats may be reserved and if they
remain vacant others are in any case occupying them.
c.
In most of
the RTC buses, the steps for boarding
are too high causing undue physical hardship to old people. These may be
suitably modified to facilitate boarding.
4
INEFFECTIVE
IMPLEMENTATION OF SENIOR CITIZENS WELFARE ACT, 2007:- It is
gratifying that the Government of A P. have promptly notified the above Act and
also issued the G.O containing the rules for implementation of the Act. Which benefits to senior citizens who are neglected by their children. But from the
number of cases filed and decided in the Tribunals in the Districts for payment
of maintenance allowance it is seen that in 80% of the Districts the number is
either NIL or extremely poor. This shows
that the act is not implemented effectively.It is requested that necessary
funds and staff may be provided so that the Act is publicized among the needy
and implemented effectively.
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
along with others at e.seva centers, bus
counters, fair price shops, banks, and
other bill paying counters, etc., we pray that suitable instructions may
be issued from the highest level to all concerned officials of all the
departments to provide separate counters
or Q lines for senior citizens. This
cost nothing to the Govt but at the same time gives a lot of relief for senior
citizens. Rom physical strain. 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
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 for the welfare and safety of
senior citizens. We pray that all the
provisions in the said plan may be
implemented in letter and spirit, for which we the senior citizens, (numbering
9% of the population, 15% of the voters and 20% of the potential and effective
voters) will remain ever grateful to the Government. Thanking you sir,
Yours faithfully
(V.Nageswara Rao)
SecretaryGeneral,A.P.Senior.CitizensConfederation(APSCCON)
ONBEHALF OF JOINT ACTION COMMITTE OF SR CITIZENS
ASSOCIATIONS OF GREATER HYDERABAD
SCNPD observed in Tarnaka, Secunderabad on 23rd August 2013
Senior Citizens National Protest Day Observed in Tarnaka, Secunderabad
Several Senior Citizens Associations in Tarnaka Area jointly observed Senior Citizens National Protest Day on 23rd August 2013 in Nagarjuna Nagar Community Hall. About 50 persons attended the meeting, wearing black badges. HelpAge pamphlet, Tanaka News, info on forthcoming AISCCON National Conference to be held in Lucknow in November and other material were distributed. Sri KSN Murthy, Sri Thirupati Rao, Dr P Vyasamoorthy and Sri Om Prakash were on the dais.
Sri Om Prakash welcomed the gathering explaining how the Protest day got extended to a fortnight long celebration, to enable regional participation of clusters of SCAs to come together. He also told how several reminders / memorandums given to CM have not even reached the concerned department even after several months. Sri Thirupathi Rao stressed that unless we get united as a single force we won't be heard. He said that we must talk to political parties to include our concerns in their manifestos. Dr Vyasamoorthy traced the history of SCNPD, mentioning activities carried out in other cities (like Lucknow Delhi Trivandrum Chennai and Mumbai), and about our main demands.
Sri Lohitaksha Menon spoke about the plight of EPS 90 pensioners (retirees from public and private sector industries) and said we should keep up the pressure till we succeed. Sri Bhagawanulu pointed out that unless we serve the seniors in BPL and rural areas, we would not gain the sympathy of public. Sri C O Raghu, advocate, (9849778916) offered to help in cases of Elder abuse with Tribunals, Lok Adalat, Collectors of Hyderabad and RR District or even with filing cases under CrPC in lower courts of Hyderabad. Mr Shyam from HelpAge distributed pamphlets. Media persons promised help.
Meeting ended with a proposal of Vote of Thanks by Menon.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
All Manipur Senior Citizens Welfare Association - SCNPD
Senior Citizens to observe Protest Day
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 21 2013: All Manipur Senior Citizens' Welfare Association (AMSCWA), under the aegis of All India Senior Citizens' Confederation (AISCCON), Mumbai is all set to observe Senior Citizens' National Protest Day on August 25 at Singjamei Chinga Makhong here.
In a press statement of AMSCWA, the Protest Day which is being observed nationwide from August 16 till 31 is to register its strong opposition/protest against GOI for their neglect and indifference to the long standing genuine demands of the Confederation.
Some of the demands of AISCCON are, setting up of a separate Ministry, National Commission, welfare fund, Govt Old Age Homes for the senior citizens; implementation of National policy, affordable health insurance scheme for older persons; grant of 50% concession in train and bus fair to senior citizens, earmarking of adequate budget for older persons, elimination of elders' abuse, insertion of a penal provision for abandonment of parents, etc, the statement added.
===========
http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=Snipp10..220813.aug13
TANSECA submits memorandum - SCNPD
Here is a news item from Tamilnadu as it appeared in ELDERS Newsletter.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Fwd: national protest day-august16-kozhicode dt.dharna
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: haneefa rawther <haneefarawther2005@rediffmail.com>
Date: Sun, Aug 18, 2013 at 11:07 AM
Subject: national protest day-august16-kozhicode dt.dharna
Dear sir
Date: Sun, Aug 18, 2013 at 11:07 AM
Subject: national protest day-august16-kozhicode dt.dharna
Dear sir
National protest day observed in kozhikod district by senior citizens service council BY STAGING PROTEST RALLY AND DHARNA BEFORE THE COLLECTORATE.I,V,SASANKAN INAUGURATED.K.S.BHISHMAR,K.M.GOPALAKRISHNAN,A.K.CHANDRAN and KALPANA PALLATH LED THE DHARNA.
HANEEFA RAWTHER
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Fwd: Event held in Chennai on 16th August 2013
Here is a report from Chennai.
Nearly 100 people attended.
TEN Resolutions passed and taken up for action.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rajasekaran Doraiswamy <rajasekaran.doraiswamy@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Aug 17, 2013 at 4:48 PM
Subject: Event held in Chennai on 16th August 2013
To: Padmanabha Vyasamoorthy <vyasamoorthy@gmail.com>
From: Rajasekaran Doraiswamy <rajasekaran.doraiswamy@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Aug 17, 2013 at 4:48 PM
Subject: Event held in Chennai on 16th August 2013
To: Padmanabha Vyasamoorthy <vyasamoorthy@gmail.com>
Dear Mr. Vyasamoorthy,
The Protest Day was observed in Chennai as programmed on 16th August.
Representatives of the Affiliates of the Federation of Senior Citizens of Tamilnadu assembled at the foot of the Visveswariah Tower and marched to the meeting venue at the North East end of the Tower Park in a procession lead by Mr. D. Rajasekaran, President FOSCATAN and Mr. V. Veerabadran President of TANSECA. Over 100 senior citizens took part in the procession including Dr. Captain Singaraja, Vice-President -I, FOSCATAN, Mr. K. Venkatachari, Vice-President-II, FOSCATAN, and Mr. A. Raju, General Secretary of FOSCATAN.
The participants carried placards displaying some of our long pending demands and the banners of their respective Association. Press photographers have taken pictures of the procession
In the meeting that followed, Capt Singaraja explained in detail the issues that we have been agitating about. He pointed out how the NPOP formulated in 1999 is remaining unimplemented for the past 14 years.
Dr. R. Thilagaraj, HOD, Department of Criminology, University of Madras, spoke about the various aspects of Elder Abuse and Crimes committed against Elders. Senior Citizens had become soft targets of criminals and anti social elements. They were also victims of many forms of abuse. Very often the abuse occurred within the home and the offender was the elder`s own family member. He said the Madras University will be shortly holding a one-day seminar to discuss the problem threadbare and invited the senior citizens to attend it in large numbers.
Earlier Mr. Veerabadran, President, TANSECA welcomed the gathering and said that the necessity to hold a protest day had arisen because of the indifference shown by our Centre and State Governments to the problems of senior citizens.Ordinary representations have not had any effect and senior citizens had therefore to come out in the open to express their feelings..
Dr. Rajalakshmi, Secretary of TANSECA introduced the Chief Guest Dr. Thilagaraj to the audience.
Mr. D. Rajasekaran, President of FOSCATAN moved the following ten resolutions which were adopted unanimously. He said that the resolutions would be sent to the concerned governments for their attention
.
Resolution 1: This meeting urges the Central Government to publish the Mohin Giri Committees Draft of the Revised National Policy on Older Persons submitted two years ago and take steps to implement its recommendations.
Resolution 2. This meeting urges the expeditious implementation of the MWPSC Act 2007 by such of those States which have not yet notified it in their States. It also urges the States which have notified it to set up the required machinery to implement it.
Resolution 3. This meeting urges that the minimum pension available under NPS 95 scheme be raised o Rs. 3000 p.m.
Resolution 4 This meeting urges the pension payable under the I.G.O.A. P be raised to Rs. 2000
Resolution 5. This meeting urges the Central Government to make it mandatory to for Insurance Companies to provide health insurance cover to senior citizens at affordable premiums. The policies should be offered without restrictive clauses regarding age of entry and existing illnesses should not be a disqualification.
Resolution 6.This meeting urges the Central and the State governments to create separate ministries/departments for looking after the welfare of senior citizens.
Resolution 7. This meeting urges the Tamilnadu Government to implement early its proposal to construct one old age home in each and every district of the State. Norms should be prescribed for the homes and a regulatory body set up to ensure that the norms are adhered to by the government homes as well as homes in the private sector.
Resolution 8 This meeting urges the Central government to enhance the rail fare concession to male senior citizens from 40 to 50% bringing it on par with that being given to female senior citizens.
Resolution 9 This meeting urges the T.N. State Government to grant fare concession to senior citizens for travel in city as well as district buses.
Resolution 10. This meeting urges the T. N. State Government to provide geriatric care in all its hospitals. Geriatric physicians should be appointed in all PHCs and geriatric wards opened in all hospitals from the district level on wards.
Senior CItizens National Protest Day Hyderabad 16th August 2013 Report
A Note on Meeting on
Senior Citizens Protest Day, Hyderabad on 16th August 2013
In a State wide agitation covering 16 districts (thirty
three locations) in Andhra Pradesh, Senior Citizens wearing black badges,
observed Senior Citizens National Protest day today. Rallies, meetings and
Dharnas were held in Adilabad, Nizamabd, Nalgonda, Prakasam, Srikakulam,
Hyderabad, Visakapatnam, Vizianagaram, Warangal, W Godavary, E Godavari,
Chittoor, Kurnool, Krishna, Karimnagar and Guntur. This is the fourth year in succession
that such a protest day is being observed. Meeting held in Hyderabad is
described below.
The indoor meeting was organised in Lions Bhavan
Secunderabad. Nearly 160 people participated. The Joint Action Committee
consisting of Representatives of AISCCON, APSCCON, FAPSCO, TCSCCON, HelpAge,
BPS, Aasara and others organised this meeting. There was a press meet some
three days earlier but no media person turned up. Sri RN Mital, Sri CH
Parameshwar Reddy, Sri Razak Ahmad, Sri Om Prakash, Sri Prakash Yande, Sri Md
Sattar, Smt Prasanna, Sri Linga Reddy and Sri Ramachandriah were on the dais.
Sri Linga Reddy welcomed all. He gave a gist of our main
demands for which the Protest day is being observed. Sri RN Mital explained how
senior citizens have been neglected all through for many decades. Recently revised
Companies Act lays emphasis on CSR but does not include supporting Senior
Citizens Causes. As Elder abuse is becoming rampant, stringent punishment must
be provided in MWPSCA, similar to provisions in Domestic Violence Act. The
plight of EPS 95 pensioners was explained.
Sri Parameshwar Reddy traced the history of SCNPD and spoke on Lok
Adalats, Generic medicines and SHRC related activities. Sri Om Seth said even
after 6 months of giving four representations by FAPSCO to the Chief Minister
they have not reached concerned department yet! Mr Razak of HelpAge told how
pamphlets, posters, banners etc have been despatched to 16 districts in AP (33
locations) to help organising Protest Day activities. Sri Chandramouli spoke of
SCOVA and its bonding pensioners with other senior citizens. Sri Ms Sattar
spoke in Hindi and listed out specific concessions we should ask for -- these
included: bus fare, house tax, telephone and electricity.
Sri Prakash Yande gave a detailed account of problems of
EPS95 pensioners and informed us of a large meeting of 3000 EPS95 pensioners
being held in Sevagram near Wardha on 1st September 2013. Smt Prasanna of ING Life, who sponsored the
event with a generous donation of Rs 25000/-, made a presentation. Second
career opportunities for senior citizens with ING Life were explained.
Sri IM Bhalla (9849244480) who distributed his book “For a
Corruption Free Society : Let us do our bit for fighting Corruption” spoke
emphasising that the root cause for all our evils is lack of ethics arising out
of greed and corruption. Other speakers included Smt Sobha Mr Sharma, Ms Kamakshi, Sri V satyanarayana and
Prof Visweswaraiah. Sri Ramachandraiah thanked all and concluded the meeting.
Apart from promotional material from ING Life and Agarwal
Eye Hospital and the book by Mr Bhalla, SCNPD pamphlet, Speech of Sri Linga
Reddy, Note on EPS95, Twilight Life newsletter were distributed. The event
ended with lunch hosted by ING Life.
Pre-event news coverage - SCNPD - 2013
-
TISS supports senior citizens protest - Sify
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