Seniors rise anew against old worries

CHANDIGARH: For the first time in city's history, as many as 23 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) came together to protest for a common cause ' demanding Centre's immediate attention to the demands of senior citizens.
Nearly 500 elderly men and women organized a silent protest on Monday as part of a campaign on Senior Citizens' National Protest Day.The stir, which was held at Sector-17 piazza, was an attempt to make Union government speed up the process for implementation of National Policy On Older Persons (NPOP), which it had announced in 1991.
The protest was spearheaded by Senior Citizen Welfare Association, Greater Chandigarh.
"Only three states out of 35 have effectively implemented the Maintenance and Welfare of Parent and Senior Citizen (MWPSC) Act, which was passed three years ago," said Raghunath Yadav, a protester.
He added, "We often come across old people who've been evicted from their houses by the children. Given the insecurity about their future, legal support must be provided to them so that they can get their house back. As the government has failed to implement NPOP, the elderly find themselves helpless. It shows authorities' apathy towards those who had contributed to the state's development during their youth."
Rukhmani Devi, a senior citizen residing in Sector 22, said, "We live under constant fear as there is no guarantee of security for people like me. Those below poverty line are given Rs 400 per month, which is insignificant given their deteriorating health. What's worse is that 50% of these people are not even extended this benefit due to poor implementation of the scheme."
Lamenting that of 10 crore senior citizens in India, 66% cannot afford two meals a day, the president of Citizen Forum on Human Rights, Sushil Gupta, said, "A whopping 90% have no social and health security, 73% are illiterate and forced to earn their livelihood through physical labour and 37% have absolutely no support."
President of Senior Citizen Welfare Association's president Manmohan Singh Walia shared, "Sadly, though 63 years have passed since we attained freedom, Centre hasn't settled issues like increment in pension, free medical aid and ways of safeguarding life and property of the elderly."
Making an impassioned appeal, 90-year-old JS Bhullar said, "A separate secretary for senior citizen issues will go a long way. The government must provide the old with 50% concession in railway and bus fare."