Wednesday, August 17, 2011

We will light Candles to Support Jan Lokpal Bill

We will light Candles to Support Jan Lokpal Bill

Time: Friday, August 19 · 6:00pm to 6.30 pm.

Location: Marigold Mini Hall, Tholiya Bhavan, next to Regency Hotel, Nr. Vakola Highway Signal Vakola, Santacruz East, Mumbai 400055

Organizers: My Varishtha Nagrik Seva Sanstha members (Sr Citizens) will extend support to Jan Lokpal Bill and Annaji.
Tea and Biscuits will be served.
All are welcome.

Alok Tholiya

9324225699

atholiya@gmail.com

Thursday, August 11, 2011

State not paying attention to our needs: Senior citizens

State not paying attention to our needs: Senior citizens

Posted by: "Sheetal - Karmayog" info@karmayog.org

Thu Aug 11, 2011 2:57 am (PDT)



State not paying attention to our needs: Senior citizens
Old Woes - Say maharashtra yet to implement policy on elders, submit demands to pm, cm

The National Policy on Older Persons (NPOP, 1999) has been adopted by only seven states, including Goa, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi. This and other issues concerning the welfare of senior citizens were taken up by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) along with several senior citizens' associations on Wednesday. It included representatives from All India Senior Citizens Confederation and Federation of Senior Citizen of Maharashtra.

"The state governments are largely indifferent to the problems of senior citizens. The status of adoption of NPOP by various states, even after 12 years of its promulgation by the Centre, is bleak. Despite assurances, Maharashtra is yet to adopt it. Though mandated in the NPOP, no health security has been provided by most states. In the absence of state subsidised health insurance, if a senior citizen falls ill, quality health care is unaffordable," said Nasreen Rustomfram, chairperson of Centre for Lifelong Learning, TISS.

Demanding that the focus of state governments should be to implement the provisions laid down by the Centre, it was decided to observe August 16 as the "senior citizens national solidarity day" across India.

A memorandum, highlighting their demands, have also been submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan by the joint action committee of senior citizens on Wednesday.

"We are submitting this memorandum on behalf of over one crore senior citizens in Maharashtra, about 66 per cent of whom are poor, 90 per cent are without any social or health security and over 20 per cent are lonely, surviving under the threat of criminal attacks. Even after 50 years of formation of the state, very little has been done by the government to improve the quality of life of its senior citizens," the memorandum said.

Provision of uniform fare concession of 50 per cent to all senior citizens without gender discrimination, escalators/lifts on all important stations and ramps on others, declaration of a comprehensive national policy for dementia and alzheimer patients and complete implementation of the National Programme for Healthcare of the elderly are some other demands. "Establishment of fast track courts for speedy, time-bound disposal of pending cases of senior citizens in all courts have also been demanded," she said.

URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/state-not-paying-attention-to-our-needs-senior-citizens/830147/0