M.V.Ruparelia, Chief Patron, All India Senior Citizens
Cofederation (AISCCON). A503 Rashmi Utsav, Near Jangid Estate & Vijay Park,
Mira Road (East) Dist. Thane. 401107. T.No. 022-28123691. M. 09821732855.
To Date: 21-11-13.
Shri Joginder Prasad,
Under Secretary (Co-ordination II), Ministry of Home
Affairs,
North Block, New Delhi-110001.
Sub: Representation from Senior Citizens about help required
from various Ministries under Government of India for 120 crore Elders of the
Country.
Ref: Your letter no. 20011/125/2013-Coord.II dt 14-11-13.
1.
We are very much thankful for your prompt and
detailed reply and guidance to various representations to President and your
Ministry. As guided by you, it is observed from web site http://cabsec.nic.in for allocation of business
rules, 1961 that Ministry of Social Justice is allotted the work of welfare of
senior citizens as a Nodal Ministry with clear indication in the Note that: ``
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment shall be the nodal Department
for the overall policy, planning and coordination of programmes for the
development of the groups mentioned at (i) to (iv) above, and the welfare of
the group at (v) above. However, overall management and monitoring
etc. of the sectoral programmes in respect of these groups shall be the
responsibility of the concerned Central Ministries, State Governments and Union
territory Administrations. Each Central Ministry or Department shall
discharge nodal responsibility concerning its sector.``
2.
Government of India had announced
National Policy on Older Persons, 1999 on 13-2-99 with the approval of Cabinet.
Para 93 of the Policy directs each
Ministry to implement the aspects concerning them by preparing Five Year and
Annual Action Plan with targets. It has been provided in its Mandate and Policy Statement & other paras to
take effective steps to improve the quality of life of all Elders, strengthen
their legitimate place in society and help them to live their last spell of
life with purpose, dignity and peace.
Para 18 of the Policy provides that age 60+ is a
phase, when individual should have chances and opportunities to lead an active,
creative, productive and satisfying life.
3.
When we request any Ministry to advise action
taken and proposed to be taken on various provisions of this declared National
Policy, stock reaction is that they are not concerned and we should approach
Ministry of Social Justice only. e.g. Major stakeholder, the Ministry of
Finance is not prepared to issue any instructions to RBI and other Banks about
providing financial security, as laid down in Policy but advises in Financial
Meetings to the Banks that the additional interest
for senior citizens may be reasonable but not excessive, resulting in extra ½% ,
which was being given getting reduced to ¼% by SBI & other banks!! Finance
Ministry is not accepting to give subsidy in premium for medical insurance to
Elders, as recommended by IRDA long ago and provided in Policy, 99 nor prepared
to create Welfare Fund for Elders, as provided in Policy even after 14 years. Major
points requiring action by various Ministries are briefly mentioned in PIB
Release dt 12-11-13 received with your above. No Ministry is prepared to change
their old Rules for their retired staff on the basis of Provisions of National
Policy, 99 and National Programme for Health Care of Elders(NPHCE) notified by Ministry of Health before 3-4
years!! e.g. Railways are taking their serving employees on tour regularly
through contributions to Staff Benefit Fund
but not taking retired employees; they allow the use of their Holiday
Homes to retired staff but charge 1 ½ times, they charge to serving employees.
All Ministries provide free medical treatment to retired employees through
their own fulfledged Medical Hospitals like Railways, Defence etc & CGHS
dispensaries etc but are not prepared to adopt facilities of geriatric wards
etc laid down in NPHCE. Health Ministry is not prepared to issue any instructions
to them. All Central Government retired employees are deprived of NPHCE
Provisions. Action on Maintenance & Welfare of Parents & Senior
Citizens is also not being taken by concerned Ministries but left to Nodal
Ministry.
4.
Ministry of Social
Justice can not force or even ask other Ministry to act, chase and do their
duties! All Central Ministries have to initiate action to implement various
provisions by issuing proper instructions to their subordinate offices and
States/UTs, Public Sector Undertakings, Media, Trusts etc and chase them
regularly and get their portions implemented. For this, we request you to issue
special instructions to all Stake Holders including Media, Trusts etc for all
the three Policies early.
5.
Ministry of Social Justice is provided with 1
Joint Secretary, 1 Dy Secretary, 1 Under Secretary and 2 Section Officers for
welfare of 120 crore Elders of the Country, as compared to 1 Secretary, 1
Director, 2 Dy Secretaries, 1 Sr PPS, 6 Under Secretaries, 1 AD (OL), 6 Section
Officers and 4 Personal Secretaries for about 30 lakh civil pensioners of all
Ministries, though Pension Ministry has to only make out policy etc and
payments and grievance solving etc are made by each Ministry. Each Ministry is
brought to regular SCOVA Meetings with various Unions of Pensioners for
grievances of all Pensioners. Ministry of Social Justice is not able to chase
any stakeholders for implementation, does not disseminate any information to
Elders of the Country, does not negotiate with any of the registered
Associations of Senior Citizens, not able to finalize even revised policy for
senior citizens in 4 years since formation of Review Committee on 28-1-10, not
able to prepare a note for cabinet`s approval for revised policy since more
than 6 months!! What can Government expect from mere 3 officers for such a huge
task of welfare of 120 crore Elders of the Country, which is increasing day by
day.
6.
Vision of Home Ministry is to maintain peace and harmony in the
Country, which are essential pre-requisites for development and blossoming of
individual as well as social aspirations and building a strong and prosperous
nation. For this, Home Ministry is to preserve, protect and promote social
harmony, provide timely justice and uphold the principles of human rights.
Elders of the Country are abused, many killed, most neglected by Society &
Governments and are not respected nor any action is taken to ensure that they are
developed and helped to live their last phase of life with purpose, dignity and
peace, as laid down in Mandate & Policy Statement in National Policy, 99.
Their position was brought out in our representations to President and your
Ministry (PRSEC/E/2013/13557 dt 23-8-13 & MINHA/E/2013/01833 dt 13-9-13
etc) under reference and need not be repeated. However, it will not be out of
place to mention here that Government of Maharashtra is considering citizens of
65 and above only as Senior Citizens in the State Policy declared on 30-9-13,
as Maharashtrians, perhaps are not Indian Citizens for whom Government of India
has notified that all those of 60 and above are senior citizens in the entire
country. We request our Home Ministry to look in to this pitiable
condition of our Elders, whose Human Rights are being violated often in our
Country, which boasts for Matro Devo Bhav & Pitro Devo Bhav in entire
World! We shall be thankful, if something tangible is got done at an early date
by providing sufficient staff to Nodal Ministry and issuing higher level
instructions to all Ministries to take sufficient and efficient action for
welfare of their Elders.
Thanking You,
Yours Sincerely,
(M.V.Ruparelia)
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