Friday, October 18, 2013

Maharashtrians of 60(+) to 65 are not Indians?

To                                                          Mumbai. Date 17-10-13.
The Registrar General,
Bombay High Court, Fort, Mumbai-400032.

Respected Hon Chief Justice Of Maharashtra,

Sub: Indifferent Attitude & Highhandedness of Government of Maharashtra towards Elders of Maharashtra.
Ref: Approval by Cabinet to State Policy for Senior Citizens on Monday, 30-9-13.

I am a Senior Citizen of 80 working for welfare of Senior Citizens. According to National Policy of Older Persons, 99 approved by Central Cabinet, all Citizens of India of 60(+) are notified as Senior Citizens. Maharashtra Government in their State Policy has declared that in Maharashtra, citizens above 65 years only will be treated as Senior Citizens. This has deprived 35% of 1.2 crore Senior Citizens of Maharashtra from various concessions & facilities, they were getting till 30-9-13 without giving them opportunity to represent or heard. Identity cards were issued by State for all citizens above 60 and all citizens of 60(+) were declared senior citizens in Part 1 of State Policy. As this 35% are not senior citizens now, Rules notified by State on 23-6-10 for Maintenance & Welfare of Parents & Senior Citizens Act, 2007 will not apply to them and they will be deprived of all facilities like security of life & property, old age homes etc. All protests through media & letters by individuals & associations will not bring any result, as declaration of State Policy itself has taken 14 years inspite of hundreds of repeated representations by all organization of Senior Citizens of Maharashtra. I enclose one News item of Times of India of 1-10-13 to give complete idea of grave situation. State can restrict the concessions to 65 (+) for any or all facilities but can not change the definition of Senior Citizen of any Indian Citizen abruptly and deprive them from provisions of Act, 2007 & Rules framed by them.

1.2 crore senior citizens will be highly obliged, if Hon. Court takes cognizance of  this important issue and direct the State to keep the definition unchanged.

Thanking You,

Yours Sincerely,

(M.V.Ruparelia)


 M.V.Ruparelia, Chief Patron, All India Senior Citizens Confederation (AISCCON).
A 503 Rashmi Utsav, Near Jangid Estate & Vijay Park, Mira Road (E). 401 107.  
 M. 9821732855.   E/Mail: mvrup@yahoo.co.in

To                                                          Mumbai. Date 17-10-13.
Honorable Shri Prithviraj Chavan
Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mantralaya, Mumbai: 400032.

Sub: State Policy for Senior Citizens declared on Monday, 30-9-13.

It is observed from Press Reports that State has defined Senior Citizen in Maharashtra as an individual over the age of 65. According to National Policy of Older Persons, 99 approved by Central Cabinet, all Citizens of India of 60(+) are notified as Senior Citizens. Part 1 of State Policy also defines Senior Citizen as individual of 60(+) and State have issued Identity Cards to all with 60(+). This has deprived 35% of 1.2 crore Senior Citizens of Maharashtra from various concessions & facilities, they were getting till 30-9-13 without giving them opportunity to represent or heard.

State can restrict concessions for any and all schemes to citizens of 60(+) to 65 but cannot change the definition of senior citizen, which is 60(+) for all Indian Citizens. Many facilities like security of property & life, old age homes etc under Maintenance Act, 2007 and various other facilities like separate Q, Indira Gandhi National Pension of Rs 200 given by Central Government to BPL senior citizens, Banks giving 1/2 % extra interest, free health care in government hospitals to all senior citizens of 60(+) as per GR no. MAG/2004/138/pra.ka.-20 arogya 3-mantralaya dt 21-7-04 & GR no. sankarna 2006/pra.ka. 118/2006/navi-20 dt 12-12-06,  railway fares, use of Day Care Centres, tourist concessions, preference in dealing with their representations/grievances, preference in gas & telephone connections etc due to withdrawal of Identity Cards as Senior Citizens.

As there is unrest amongst senior citizens of Maharashtra, immediate action may kindly be taken to restore the definition of senior citizen, sending copy of State Policy by return.

Thanking You,

Yours Sincerely,

(M.V.Ruparelia)

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