Why National Protest Fortnight?

Through the Editorial Column of this Journal in April 2013, we brought it to the notice of readers that we have to prepare for a strong, effective, nationwide agitation again, as the rulers – at the Centre, state and local level are totally ignoring our just demands. May it be Ministry of Finance, or Railways or Rural Development none of them are taking a reasonable and sympathetic attitude to solve the problems of 11 crore seniors citizens of the country. Few months back they did discuss with our leaders the demands put forth by us for the last many years, but conceded none. On the contrary the Ministry of Finance has issued a directive to the Nationalized Banks to reduce the rate of interest on the fixed deposits of Sr. Citizens in order to reduce cost of funds. This is shocking as it will cause severe hardship to Senior Citizens, whose only income is interest on fixed deposits.

We had requested the Govt. to raise the Central Share in India Gandhi National old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) from Rs. 200 to Rs. 1000/- Per Month for the age group of 60-79 yrs. The Steering Committee of planning Commission had recommended Rs.1000/- to be paid to them, but it was astonishing that the Task Force appointed by the Ministry of Rural Development, recommended the Old Age Pension to be increased from Rs. 200/- to Rs. 300/- per month only, further next year. Thus the OAP is proposed to be increased to Rs.500/- per month from 2016-17, which means the poor Sr. Citizen will have to wait for 3 years to get this paltry relief. It must be noted that the percentage of amount spent by our Central Govt. on social Security (OAP), is less than many countries with weaker economy than us, like Malaysia, South Africa, Nepal and Bangladesh. Our demand is that the Central Govt. should pay Rs. 1000/- and make the States pay an equivalent amount so that a poor Sr. Citizen gets a pension of Rs. 2000/- per month.

From the allocation of funds for the year 2013-14 for the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, it can be clearly made out that the amount allocated for the various schemes under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 (MWPSC Act) it is obligatory to start at least one Old Age Home (OAH) of 150 beds in every District for indigent elders, but there is no allocation at all in the Budget of 2013-14 for the scheme of Assistance for establishment of OAH’s for indigent Sr. Citizens. Probably the Planning Commission is to be blamed for this big lapse, which considers it the responsibility of the State Govt. to spend for the OAH construction, and not of the Centre.

For Awareness generation of MWPSC Act, 2007only Rs. 2 Crore are provided. Similar amount (Rs. 2 Crore) is provided each for setting up National Commission for Sr. Citizens, Creation of a National Trust for the Aged and even for /implementation of National Policy of Senior Citizens. With such poor allocation hoe can you expect the programmes and the National Policy to be implemented? For many years we find that the Sr. Citizens who number 11 Crore, 10% of the total population is getting less than 2% of the total budget of MSJE. This is set-motherly treatment to us, which makes our demand for a separate Ministry for Sr. Citizens stronger.

The state Govts. are not less indifferent. Major States like UP, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu etc… have not yet thought of declaring their State Policies for Sr. Citizens though 14 years have lapsed after the announcement of NPOP in January 1999. Every State in India has about 9-10% Sr. Citizen Population today, which is in dire need of help, but the state Govt. don’t feel the urgency, though elderly population is growing fast every day. Many States like UP, Bihar, Uttarkhand, all North Eastern states and most Union Territories have not yet implemented the MWPSC Act, 2007 at all and many of those who have completed all formalities of implementation, have not fully operationalsed the Act their States.

Under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) all States are supposed to pay at least Rs.200/- per month for BPL Sr. Citizen, but this expectation is not honored by many states like UP, Bihar, West Bengal, MP, Gujarat, AP etc. Why the elders in these Sates are made to suffer? We highly appreciate the Govt. of Goa which gives a total of Rs.2000/- per month as pension (Rs.1000/- from the Centre and Rs. 1000/- from the State) for 60-79 yrs. Poor Senior Citizen is fully justified. The 80+ should get 50% more.

Most of the State Govts. are not giving 50% concession in State Transport Bus Fare to 60+ Sr. Citizens which is one of the important needs of Sr. Citizens. Most of the Muncipal Corporations like Greater Hyderabad, Navi Mumbai, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Delhi are taking keen interest in elder’s welfare, which should be a basic, standard programme of all Municipal Corporations and Municipalities all over India.

In brief all Govts-at the Centre, State and Local level are not serious about the problems of Sr. Citizens through they from 14% of the electorate.

Former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan told the Delegation of Sr. Citizens-that “Senior Citizens, in spite of their number, collective wisdom and experience, will continue to be ignored and marginalized unless they unite.” Let us get united, protest against Govt. apathy at all levels, and show our strength through the August 2013 agitation, by observing National Protest Fort Night in a disciplined manner.

             -Dr. S. P. Kinjawadekar