Reverse Mortgage Loan: M.V.Ruparelia.
Introduction:
Number of Senior Citizens in our country as well as the whole world is increasing day by day due to various factors like overall economic growth, low mortality, advancement of medical science etc. Such a huge number of experienced and talented think tanks of the society can not be ignored by any Government or Society! With a view to provide a steady stream of income to Senior Citizens owning residential premises, Finance Minister had announced the introduction of a novel Loan Facility called ``Reverse Mortgage Loan`` (RML)in his Budget Speech of 2007. Government owned National Housing Bank has notified detailed operating instructions for guidance of Primary Lending Institutes (PLI) viz Scheduled Banks and Housing Finance Corporations (HFCs). PLIs have been advised to observe and maintain high standards of conduct with Senior Citizens and their families and treat them with special care, fairness and sympathy. They are also advised to disclose and explain all terms of the loan clearly. They should give full details of methodology followed in valuation of Residential Premises, quantum of loan and all pros and cons of loan. They will also explain the details of Agreement to be entered into for Mortgage. As a customer-friendly gesture, even after loan is sanctioned and documents executed, borrowers shall be given 3 clear days time to cancel the transaction (Right of Rescission). Finance Ministry has further clarified that no Income Tax is payable on amounts received by neither Senior Citizens from Mortgaging Organization nor any capital gain is payable on higher assessed value of their flats given on mortgage. This Scheme has now become quite advantageous to Senior Citizens (Asset reach but Income poor) having their flats needing additional income. Let needing Senior Citizens take advantage of this Scheme and improve their standard of living.
Amongst the Banks, Punjab National Bank (PNB) was first to introduce its Loan Scheme named ``Bagban`` and amongst HFCs, Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Ltd (DHFL) was first to introduce its ``Saksham``. Thereafter almost all Banks & HFCs have notified their schemes from time to time.
Necessity:
Generally, Loan is not acceptable or advisable in our culture but culture not of our country but almost the entire World to-day is completely changed. Farmer takes loan for tractor, seeds etc to increase production. Citizens take loans for bikes, cars, T.V., Fridge, and House Building etc. Governments are taking loans for food grains to feed population, water supply schemes, roads, machinery, arms etc for welfare as well
as quick development of the country.
Due to abnormal increase in dearness, overall progress and easy availability of various things and facilities, it is difficult for many Senior Citizens to live comfortably within their present income. Many had not planned for such a long life span. There are Senior Citizens, who have some income out of pension or savings but not sufficient to meet all their basic needs. There are some, who have good income for basic needs but not sufficient for good health care facilities, picnics, pilgrimages, sight seeing or similar needs of better life. They are not able to spend much for social obligations like marriages of children etc. There are some, who have enough income to meet such needs but not sufficient for fulfillment of their childhood desires, fancies and fantasies like visits to Far-East, Alps, Switzerland, Europe, America or a flat TV, costly Mobile and similar desires! Almost all Senior Citizens have worked hard during their prime time and spent their hard earnings for family and social obligations etc and hardly anything on self. Many have saved and/or taken loan for providing Residential Premises and take pride of having such premises. They are staying in such self acquired premises for quite some time and have personal attachment to that place. Their children do not require these premises or anything from them, being well off and staying independently and want their parents to enjoy and live comfortably. Senior Citizens do not wish to sell off and go to smaller premises or native place, even when they need more income. The price of their property has increased considerably, as compared to their purchase price and it has become their `Home –Equity Wealth`. This Reverse Mortgage Scheme is to help all such Senior Citizens to augment their income and empower them to enjoy the fruits of the booming economic progress of the country in their last spell of life and to live decent life, if not King-size, at least quite comfortably. Flat is procured by them with their own efforts & earning. Parents do not want to give them to their children for some reasons or this is not required by their children, as they are well-off or away. Flat or any material things can not be taken with us on our death. It is for staying and under this scheme, staying till death of both is guaranteed, so why not encash and enjoy our last spell of life with better financial resources available to us now due to our past efforts.
Scheme:
Under this Scheme, any Senior Citizen of 60 years and above, resident of India, having a self-acquired and self-occupied Residential Premises having residual life of at least 20 years and without any encumbrances and in which he is staying at present for one year or more can mortgage the premises to any PLI of his choice. Married couple will be eligible as joint borrowers. In such cases, only one of the borrowers need be 60 and above and another 55 and above. One great advantage for borrowers is that there is no service of loan during their life time/tenor i.e. no pay-backs.
Amount of Loan:
The amount of Loan by P.L.I. shall depend upon realizable market value of residential premises assessed by P.L.I., age of borrowers and prevalent rate of interest. According to guide lines of N.H.B., the loan amount along with interest on the basis of Reverse Annuity Mortgage that will accrue till the end of tenor of loan may generally be limited as under:-
Age Group Loan amount to be limited to Assessed Value of Residential Property.
60-65 40%
66-70 50%
71-75 55%
Above 75 60%
As these are guide lines only, P.L.I.s follows their own standards. e.g. Punjab Nation Bank is keeping margin of 20% and has kept the upper limit of loan with accrued interest as 1crore. Rate of interest by P.N.B. is 10% ; by D.H.F.L. 12%and Indian Bank 10% by keeping uniform margin of 61% in all cases for 15 years tenor and loan to asset value 39%. The methodology adopted by each P.L.I. for determining the quantum of loan including the detailed tables of calculations, the rate of interest and assumptions, if any, shall be clearly disclosed to the borrowers. The valuation of property shall be reassessed at some intervals but at least once in 5 years and amount of loan shall be revised upward or downward as per revaluation. P.N.B. has fixed 5 years, D.H.F.L. & Indian Bank as 3 years for revaluation. Borrowers shall have full liberty to accept or reject the revaluation by paying the amount due at that time to P.L.I. All P.L.I.s have to ensure that the equity of borrower in residential premises (Equity to Value Ratio-EVR) does not at any time during the tenor of loan fall below 10%. The following tables of P.N.B. and Indian Bank shall give an idea as to what amount of loan per month may be available for different tenors of loan per 1 lakh of value of residential property:-
Tenor-years 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Amount Rs. 490 420 360 315 275 240 215 190 170 150 135 P.N.B.
216 I.B.
410 DHLF.
468 225 S.B.I.
461 393 337 291 252 220 Allahabad Bank
As per DHLF rates, a property worth Rs. 20 lakhs for instance will earn Rs. 4100 per month for 10 years. After adding up interest at 12 %, the amount payable to DHFL would be around Rs. 10 lakhs.
Nature of Payment:
The loan shall be payable in one or more installments in lump sum or monthly, quarterly, half yearly or annual installments, as may be mutually decided by borrowers & P.L.I.s. It can also be paid by way of committed line of credit. Lump sum payments may be made conditional and limited to special requirements such as medical emergencies, home improvements, maintenance, upgradation, renovation, extension, insurance of residential premises. This can be used even for repayment of existing loan taken for the residential property to be mortgaged and any other genuine needs of borrowers. This loan is to supplement the existing income, if any, but can not be used for any speculative, trading or business purposes. The loan-amount shall generally be paid to borrowers directly except where payments are required to be made to outside parties for repairs, maintenance, insurance, property tax, repayment of loan of residential premises to be mortgaged etc. The Loan shall be secured by way of equitable mortgage of self-acquired & self-occupied residential property in favour of P.L.I. in suitable form/agreement. The PLI shall enter into a detailed loan Agreement setting out all salient features of loan mortgage security. No Income Tax is payable on amounts received by Senior Citizens from Mortgaging Organization nor any capital gain is payable on higher assessed value of their flats given on mortgage.
Initial Cost:
The P.L.I.s will provide in writing a fair and complete package of RML material and specimen documents covering the benefits and obligations of the product. They shall also make available interest rate and details of capitalization of interest on loan etc. The initial costs (closing costs) may include the customary and reasonable fees and charges for Origination, Appraisal, Inspection & verification, Title Examination Fees, Legal Charges/Fees, Stamp Duty, Registration charges, Property Survey & Valuation charges. A detailed schedule of all such charges shall be provided to prospective borrowers by PLIs.
Settlement Of Loan:
The loan shall become due and payable only when the last surviving borrower dies or would like to sell the premises or permanently moves out of home to stay with some relatives or some institute of aged care home. If the borrowers do not live in the premises continuously for one year or more or do not intend to live there continuously, it shall be treated as moving out permanently. Settlement of loan along with accumulated interest shall be met with by proceeds received out of sale of mortgaged property. The balance surplus, if any, shall be passed on to borrowers or their heirs/estate. The borrowers or their heirs can repay the amount due from any other source and get back the mortgaged property. They can also prepay the loan and interest at any time during the loan tenor also without any levy/penalty/charge for such prepayment. The borrowers shall be allowed to continue to stay in the premises till they are alive or cease to use the property as their residence. Even in cases, where, due to accrual of interest till death of both Senior Citizens i.e. self & spouse, total amount due to the Mortgagee Organization exceeds the value of the mortgaged flat, no amount shall be payable from other property of the borrowing Senior Citizens or their kith & kin!
Obligations of borrowers:
i) Borrowers must continuously live in the mortgaged premises and not leave that for continuous 1 year or more and keep the premises in proper livable and saleable condition, keep them insured against fire, earthquake and other calamities.
ii) Continue to pay all taxes, maintenance charges, insurance, repairs & maintenance etc.
iii) Will not give away the premises on rent or by way of donation or gift or create in detail encumbrances etc or will not abandon or make any changes, which may affect the security of the premises.
iv) If the premises are declared by the government etc authorities as not fit for residence due to health or safety reasons or they desire to acquire for public purposes, the PLIs shall be
v) notified immediately.
vi) Borrowers shall not make any testamentary disposition of premises and if it is done, it would be subject to the mortgage created in favour of PLI. Will must clearly indicate that this property is subject to the discharge of the mortgage debt and heirs shall not be entitled to challenge the validity of the mortgage. PLIs may obtain a registered will in its favour stating that the borrowers have availed of RML from PLI on security by way of mortgage.
vii) Permit PLI to enter the premises for inspection, as and when necessary.
The above is only to give some idea about the new facility offered. Before applying for RML, each Senior Citizen should assess his needs, make a reasonable assessment of life expectancy and life style and approach the PLI of his choice and discuss with PLI in detail, obtain detailed scheme and then take his decision. In these 3 years, about 6400 Senior Citizens have taken advantage of this scheme and received loan to the extant of Rs 1200 crores. Looking to the poor response, perhaps due to limited period of monthly payments, a New Reverse Mortgage Loan enabled Annuity Scheme has been introduced by Central Bank of India in Dec.99.
New Reverse Mortgage Loan enabled Annuity Scheme:
Under new Reverse Mortgage Loan enabled Annuity (RMLeA), 2009, Central Bank of India & Star Union Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co. Ltd. have launched an Annuity Product called Cent Swabhiman Plus on
10-12-09, a Reverse Mortgage Loan enabled Annuity (RMLeA) - a unique & tailor-made product facilitating Senior Citizens to avail regular payments throughout life till both die, as against 10/15/20 years by RML Schemes and that too with substantially higher payments than other Schemes. Rate of interest charged is 9.5 (to be reset every 2 years) in place of 10 to 12% in RML Schemes. The amount of loan shall depend on market value of your flat (property), your age & prevalent rate of interest. For those aged 60 to 70 years, 60% of value of property, those between 70 to 80, 70% of value & for those, who are 80 & above, 75% of value of property will be the amount of loan admissible. Such admissible property value (to be revalued every 3 years) is considered for giving annuity, which can be taken at 25% ( subject to limit of Rs 15 lakhs) as lump sum and remaining or full amount in monthly, quarterly, annually etc, as desired by borrower. The borrower should be of 60 & above and spouse 55 & above. Payment will be made by Insurance Company through Central Bank. Borrowers have to deal with Central Bank only as One-Point Contact for all matters. There are 2 schemes, one without return of Purchase price and another with return of Purchase price. In the scheme of repurchase of the mortgaged property by heirs, monthly payment will be little less. Monthly payment per lakh works out to Rs. 396 in first scheme & Rs 288 p.m. in second scheme. Service charge of 1.5 % is levied. Income Tax, as per borrower’s taxable position is payable on annuity payments. Capital Gain is payable only at the point of alienation of mortgaged property by the mortgagee for the purpose of recovering loan. National Housing Bank is already in correspondence with Finance Ministry for exempting this Scheme also from Income Tax & Capital Gain. It is very important to note that the whole RMLeA scheme is a `No Negative Equity` scheme and the borrower will never owe more than the net realizable value of the mortgaged property. Even when payments with interest to borrower exceed Net Realizable Value of property, it will not be recovered from the borrower or his heirs from any other asset or will not be asked to pay that excess. Borrower can prepay an RMLeA availed at any time during the loan tenure without any levy of prepayment charges from Bank. On such repayment, Mortgage will be released by Bank with an advantage of annuity payments by Insurance Company continuing in his Bank account. On death of borrower, surviving spouse (joint borrower) is given little higher payment. All other conditions of RML Scheme mentioned in earlier portion remain the same for RMLeA Scheme also.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
National Policy of Older Persons,99- Letter to Review Committee.
To Date: 17-3-2010.
Member Secretary & Joint Secretary (SD),
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment,
Government of India, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi-110001.
Dear Sir,
Sub: Meeting on 19-3-10 for Reviewing the National Policy of Older Persons, 1999.
Ref: Your letter no. F.No.15-40(2)/09-10/AG II dt 11-3-10 received on 15-3-10.
In continuation of my letter dt 18-12-09 to Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment by name, I give the following suggestions for discussion on 19-3-10.
With the expected abnormal increase of elderly population in the coming decades, if we do not take proper steps immediately in right spirit, there will be large crowds of uncontrollable and uncared for elders roaming about on roads (more in number than stray dogs/cows/buffalos etc seen on roads
to-day) with Alzheimer, Dementia and many age related diseases difficult to manage for the Society & the Government. On the other hand also, if Science’s Dream Girl promising Eternal Youth by changing genes, using stem cells & magic pill for food & medicines etc come to our shore at affordable/subsidized/free cost, there will be crowds of youthful elders roaming for work/employment. In view of this likely grave situation of very large elder population in coming decades, it is necessary that immediate steps are taken to face this likely situation in right earnestness by all stake holders by making proper budget provisions regularly every year.
The present state of non-implementation of Policy,99 is mainly due to rigid thinking of Nodal Ministry that Policy is for guidance only and of other Ministries that the subject of NPOP,99 is not for them but only for Nodal Ministry and States/UTs not bothering much for their elders. This position must be removed by clearly bringing out in the Policy as to what action is to be taken by whom and bringing the provisions of para 93 of the Policy in II-National Policy Statement after para23. The position of very large elder population with large number of ailments and problems should be empathetically brought out with latest Demographic Trends in Implication portion of the Policy in para 7 to 11. Each Stake Holder should be asked to give action taken by them on each para and should be put up to Committee for appreciation of the existing position after 11 years and to propose further action on each para.
Immediate issues concerning Senior Citizens requiring prompt action are as under:-
i) For payment of IGNOAP (Pension), the concept that Senior Citizens must belong to BPL family must be abolished. The Pension of Rs 1000 should be paid to all Senior Citizens having income of less than Rs 2000 p.m.; Pension of Rs 750 to all having income less than 4000 p.m.; Rs 1000 to all women Senior Citizens, whether widow or married. Those above 80 must be given 20% extra every 5 years. All must be given dearness relief every 6 months. Insurance cover to BPL Senior Citizens belonging to unorganized sector should be extended to all Senior Citizens of 60 and above and cover should be more than 30000.
ii) To avoid/reduce the cases of various diseases and to enable Senior Citizens to lead Active Life, the Senior Citizens should be provided with avenues of avoiding loneliness and keeping engaged in hobbies, profession etc. The scheme of Day Care Centers and other Schemes laid down in Integrated Programme are the main avenues for keeping Senior Citizens fit & engaged. Leaving to NGOs etc to provide such facilities may not bring desired results within desired time. This responsibility with targets & number of each scheme for each district/ward etc can be fixed and given to Municipalities/Panchayats with time bound plan of action, as done for one Old Man’s House in each district by State/UT Government in Welfare & Maintenance Act, if necessary by separate legislation or including this in Maintenance & Welfare Act. Such Schemes for all Senior Citizens at all places as per fixed scale will act like preventive steps to help Senior Citizens from various diseases created due to loneliness.
iii) Sufficient avenues for second career and/or utilization on honorarium basis of Senior Citizens, who are the Think Tank of the Country and experienced must be laid down in the Policy, with large number of income generating schemes.
iv) Nothing is done all these years for providing proper health services. The proposed comprehensive National Programme for Health Care of elderly at primary, secondary & tertiary level must be scrutinized by the Committee and time bound action plan laid down in Policy. The existing facilities by Central/State & Municipal/Panchayat should be made free and improved considerably & brought to Private Hospital level and para-medical staff and doctors given training periodically to treat & behave kindly with elders. Private Hospitals must be forced to give free & concessional treatment, as provided in Public Trust Act. An Ombudsman Organization like IRDA should be constituted for whole Medical Business including production & supply of medicines. Standard Price List for various pathological, surgery etc processes should be laid down for different areas & different types of hospitals. Affordable medical treatment without any hurdles should be available for all Senior Citizens. Affordable Health Insurance with subsidized premium for low & middle income group should be provided for all ages without exclusion of existing diseases. Recommendations of Sastry Committee, as accepted by IRDA should be got incorporated in Policy and got acted upon..
v) All retired employees from Government Departments as well as Public & Private Sector must be provided all facilities like pension, medical, use of Welfare Centers, Libraries etc after retirement also by the erstwhile employers, as available to serving employees.
vi) Senior Citizens not getting Pension but surviving on interest income are hit very adversely due to dwindling interest rates & unmanageable dearness and require some help to maintain, if not earlier working time standard but atleast some standard. A scheme of higher interest must be provided in the Policy. New Tax Law is adversely affecting Senior Citizens and Policy may provide some protection.
vii) Monitoring Machinery to get progress of action taken at local level, State level & Central level should be laid down. (Para 93-94). Formation of NAOP (Para 95) at various levels by fixing targets is a must and such Associations will not only monitor the progress but also bring the requirements etc of Senior Citizens to the notice of concerned Public & Private Stake Holders. Permanent Negotiating Machinery at various levels and Joint Consultative Committee at Centre level should be laid down in Policy. All such Associations must be provided with circulars/instructions/information pertaining to Senior Citizens by all Government Departments to keep their members aware of what is happening. NCOP is not functioning properly. Constitution and working system for NCOP should be included in Policy. In absence of NAOP and recognized Associations at various levels, information about good work done by Government and benefits given does not reach at grass route levels. Again, in absence of proper Monitoring System for non-Government Stake Holders like Media, Trusts, Corporate World, Bollywood etc, no one either issues instructions or monitors the work done by these stake holders. Proper Machinery for this should be laid down in Policy.
viii) Unless Media is actively involved in this likely position of very large population of Senior Citizens in coming decades and their problems, nothing much can be achieved. Policy must lay down in clear terms the expectations of Senior Citizens from media and who will liaison with Media.
ix) Housing Schemes for Senior Citizens with medical facilities and common kitchen should be provided on rental basis with number of flats/tenements in each ward/district on programme basis in addition to sufficient number of Vrudhashrams free and paying. Reservation of fixed percentage for Senior Citizens in all Government housing schemes must be statutorily provided. Holiday Homes, Convalescent Homes should be provided at various places by giving targets. Concession/facilitation in transport facilities, hotels etc by Public & Private Sector including Travel Agencies are necessary for change in atmosphere, pilgrimage, trips etc. Entertainment for Senior Citizens is also must for maintaining good health and Cinema Houses are also required to look after their elders. Special drama/cinema on topics pertaining to Senior Citizens will help in creating healthy & happy atmosphere.
x) Welfare Fund for Senior Citizens by each Stake Holder must be provided with procedure for budget provision, donations & use of such fund. Central & State Welfare Funds must be provided for various welfare schemes & help to Senior Citizens.
Thanking You,
Yours Sincerely,
(M.V.Ruparelia)
Copy forwarded along with copy of my letter dt 18-12-09 to Smt. Mohini Giri, Chair Person of the Committee.
Member Secretary & Joint Secretary (SD),
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment,
Government of India, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi-110001.
Dear Sir,
Sub: Meeting on 19-3-10 for Reviewing the National Policy of Older Persons, 1999.
Ref: Your letter no. F.No.15-40(2)/09-10/AG II dt 11-3-10 received on 15-3-10.
In continuation of my letter dt 18-12-09 to Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment by name, I give the following suggestions for discussion on 19-3-10.
With the expected abnormal increase of elderly population in the coming decades, if we do not take proper steps immediately in right spirit, there will be large crowds of uncontrollable and uncared for elders roaming about on roads (more in number than stray dogs/cows/buffalos etc seen on roads
to-day) with Alzheimer, Dementia and many age related diseases difficult to manage for the Society & the Government. On the other hand also, if Science’s Dream Girl promising Eternal Youth by changing genes, using stem cells & magic pill for food & medicines etc come to our shore at affordable/subsidized/free cost, there will be crowds of youthful elders roaming for work/employment. In view of this likely grave situation of very large elder population in coming decades, it is necessary that immediate steps are taken to face this likely situation in right earnestness by all stake holders by making proper budget provisions regularly every year.
The present state of non-implementation of Policy,99 is mainly due to rigid thinking of Nodal Ministry that Policy is for guidance only and of other Ministries that the subject of NPOP,99 is not for them but only for Nodal Ministry and States/UTs not bothering much for their elders. This position must be removed by clearly bringing out in the Policy as to what action is to be taken by whom and bringing the provisions of para 93 of the Policy in II-National Policy Statement after para23. The position of very large elder population with large number of ailments and problems should be empathetically brought out with latest Demographic Trends in Implication portion of the Policy in para 7 to 11. Each Stake Holder should be asked to give action taken by them on each para and should be put up to Committee for appreciation of the existing position after 11 years and to propose further action on each para.
Immediate issues concerning Senior Citizens requiring prompt action are as under:-
i) For payment of IGNOAP (Pension), the concept that Senior Citizens must belong to BPL family must be abolished. The Pension of Rs 1000 should be paid to all Senior Citizens having income of less than Rs 2000 p.m.; Pension of Rs 750 to all having income less than 4000 p.m.; Rs 1000 to all women Senior Citizens, whether widow or married. Those above 80 must be given 20% extra every 5 years. All must be given dearness relief every 6 months. Insurance cover to BPL Senior Citizens belonging to unorganized sector should be extended to all Senior Citizens of 60 and above and cover should be more than 30000.
ii) To avoid/reduce the cases of various diseases and to enable Senior Citizens to lead Active Life, the Senior Citizens should be provided with avenues of avoiding loneliness and keeping engaged in hobbies, profession etc. The scheme of Day Care Centers and other Schemes laid down in Integrated Programme are the main avenues for keeping Senior Citizens fit & engaged. Leaving to NGOs etc to provide such facilities may not bring desired results within desired time. This responsibility with targets & number of each scheme for each district/ward etc can be fixed and given to Municipalities/Panchayats with time bound plan of action, as done for one Old Man’s House in each district by State/UT Government in Welfare & Maintenance Act, if necessary by separate legislation or including this in Maintenance & Welfare Act. Such Schemes for all Senior Citizens at all places as per fixed scale will act like preventive steps to help Senior Citizens from various diseases created due to loneliness.
iii) Sufficient avenues for second career and/or utilization on honorarium basis of Senior Citizens, who are the Think Tank of the Country and experienced must be laid down in the Policy, with large number of income generating schemes.
iv) Nothing is done all these years for providing proper health services. The proposed comprehensive National Programme for Health Care of elderly at primary, secondary & tertiary level must be scrutinized by the Committee and time bound action plan laid down in Policy. The existing facilities by Central/State & Municipal/Panchayat should be made free and improved considerably & brought to Private Hospital level and para-medical staff and doctors given training periodically to treat & behave kindly with elders. Private Hospitals must be forced to give free & concessional treatment, as provided in Public Trust Act. An Ombudsman Organization like IRDA should be constituted for whole Medical Business including production & supply of medicines. Standard Price List for various pathological, surgery etc processes should be laid down for different areas & different types of hospitals. Affordable medical treatment without any hurdles should be available for all Senior Citizens. Affordable Health Insurance with subsidized premium for low & middle income group should be provided for all ages without exclusion of existing diseases. Recommendations of Sastry Committee, as accepted by IRDA should be got incorporated in Policy and got acted upon..
v) All retired employees from Government Departments as well as Public & Private Sector must be provided all facilities like pension, medical, use of Welfare Centers, Libraries etc after retirement also by the erstwhile employers, as available to serving employees.
vi) Senior Citizens not getting Pension but surviving on interest income are hit very adversely due to dwindling interest rates & unmanageable dearness and require some help to maintain, if not earlier working time standard but atleast some standard. A scheme of higher interest must be provided in the Policy. New Tax Law is adversely affecting Senior Citizens and Policy may provide some protection.
vii) Monitoring Machinery to get progress of action taken at local level, State level & Central level should be laid down. (Para 93-94). Formation of NAOP (Para 95) at various levels by fixing targets is a must and such Associations will not only monitor the progress but also bring the requirements etc of Senior Citizens to the notice of concerned Public & Private Stake Holders. Permanent Negotiating Machinery at various levels and Joint Consultative Committee at Centre level should be laid down in Policy. All such Associations must be provided with circulars/instructions/information pertaining to Senior Citizens by all Government Departments to keep their members aware of what is happening. NCOP is not functioning properly. Constitution and working system for NCOP should be included in Policy. In absence of NAOP and recognized Associations at various levels, information about good work done by Government and benefits given does not reach at grass route levels. Again, in absence of proper Monitoring System for non-Government Stake Holders like Media, Trusts, Corporate World, Bollywood etc, no one either issues instructions or monitors the work done by these stake holders. Proper Machinery for this should be laid down in Policy.
viii) Unless Media is actively involved in this likely position of very large population of Senior Citizens in coming decades and their problems, nothing much can be achieved. Policy must lay down in clear terms the expectations of Senior Citizens from media and who will liaison with Media.
ix) Housing Schemes for Senior Citizens with medical facilities and common kitchen should be provided on rental basis with number of flats/tenements in each ward/district on programme basis in addition to sufficient number of Vrudhashrams free and paying. Reservation of fixed percentage for Senior Citizens in all Government housing schemes must be statutorily provided. Holiday Homes, Convalescent Homes should be provided at various places by giving targets. Concession/facilitation in transport facilities, hotels etc by Public & Private Sector including Travel Agencies are necessary for change in atmosphere, pilgrimage, trips etc. Entertainment for Senior Citizens is also must for maintaining good health and Cinema Houses are also required to look after their elders. Special drama/cinema on topics pertaining to Senior Citizens will help in creating healthy & happy atmosphere.
x) Welfare Fund for Senior Citizens by each Stake Holder must be provided with procedure for budget provision, donations & use of such fund. Central & State Welfare Funds must be provided for various welfare schemes & help to Senior Citizens.
Thanking You,
Yours Sincerely,
(M.V.Ruparelia)
Copy forwarded along with copy of my letter dt 18-12-09 to Smt. Mohini Giri, Chair Person of the Committee.
A New Vrudhashram.
Anand Ashram. M.V.Ruparelia.
A new Vrudhashram, named Anand Ashram for Senior Citizens has come up just 67 km from Mumbai at Vajreshwari through Western Express Highway. Vajreshwari is a home town of religion and popular for its `Hot Springs`. Amongst this natural & pious atmosphere, a campus for Senior Citizens with temples of Ram, Saibaba & Jalaram is built with neat & clean Bhojanalaya, Gaushala (Cow Shed), Medical Centre, Recreation Centre with various facilities including Yoga etc. Intention of the Trustees is to rejuvenate Senior Citizens and bring back their glamour & glory to life. They have made an honest attempt to create an environment for Senior Citizens, where they can spend their twilight years in comfort, dignity & freedom, they rightly deserve. There are well structured, self contained rooms along with a decent comfort level of living. A variety of rooms are available from a single, double, triple and quadruplet occupancy. Each room is esthetically furnished and offers comfortable and clean living. It is equipped with well carved furniture along with attached bathroom with geyser, shower etc with fully backed power supply. The accommodation is vast and 80 Senior Citizens can stay comfortably. As you enter the Campus, you will feel like entering a Heaven! Each room is so nice that there are no words to describe it. From terrace, you can see the Nature’s Gift to us-the greenery, the hills, the sun rise, the sun set and what not in morning & evening. A vast area of the Campus gives you liberty to enjoy walking, playing out-door games etc. Temples within the Campus are also wonderful.
As it is new one and not yet patronized by Senior Citizens, it is open for all for picnic, staying for any number of days at payment of Rs 250 per day per individual for accommodation, morning tea, breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea & dinner. Free food is given to pilgrims visiting Vajreshwari on Sundays & Thursdays. If you are in a group and do not want to stay overnight, you can also visit by keeping one room for some hours. Groups of Senior Citizens can thus visit and enjoy a day’s picnic here.
The address of the Campus is as under: Jalaram Dham, Vajreshwari-Bhiwandi Road, Vajreshwari. Dist Thane-401204. Contact No. 02522-296280.
Trust’s Head Office: T.A. Chatwani Charitable Trust & Jobanputra Trust, Citi Point, Teli Gally, Andheri (East). Mumbai400069. T.No. 022-26843051/ 26838739.
A new Vrudhashram, named Anand Ashram for Senior Citizens has come up just 67 km from Mumbai at Vajreshwari through Western Express Highway. Vajreshwari is a home town of religion and popular for its `Hot Springs`. Amongst this natural & pious atmosphere, a campus for Senior Citizens with temples of Ram, Saibaba & Jalaram is built with neat & clean Bhojanalaya, Gaushala (Cow Shed), Medical Centre, Recreation Centre with various facilities including Yoga etc. Intention of the Trustees is to rejuvenate Senior Citizens and bring back their glamour & glory to life. They have made an honest attempt to create an environment for Senior Citizens, where they can spend their twilight years in comfort, dignity & freedom, they rightly deserve. There are well structured, self contained rooms along with a decent comfort level of living. A variety of rooms are available from a single, double, triple and quadruplet occupancy. Each room is esthetically furnished and offers comfortable and clean living. It is equipped with well carved furniture along with attached bathroom with geyser, shower etc with fully backed power supply. The accommodation is vast and 80 Senior Citizens can stay comfortably. As you enter the Campus, you will feel like entering a Heaven! Each room is so nice that there are no words to describe it. From terrace, you can see the Nature’s Gift to us-the greenery, the hills, the sun rise, the sun set and what not in morning & evening. A vast area of the Campus gives you liberty to enjoy walking, playing out-door games etc. Temples within the Campus are also wonderful.
As it is new one and not yet patronized by Senior Citizens, it is open for all for picnic, staying for any number of days at payment of Rs 250 per day per individual for accommodation, morning tea, breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea & dinner. Free food is given to pilgrims visiting Vajreshwari on Sundays & Thursdays. If you are in a group and do not want to stay overnight, you can also visit by keeping one room for some hours. Groups of Senior Citizens can thus visit and enjoy a day’s picnic here.
The address of the Campus is as under: Jalaram Dham, Vajreshwari-Bhiwandi Road, Vajreshwari. Dist Thane-401204. Contact No. 02522-296280.
Trust’s Head Office: T.A. Chatwani Charitable Trust & Jobanputra Trust, Citi Point, Teli Gally, Andheri (East). Mumbai400069. T.No. 022-26843051/ 26838739.
Chinmaya Vibhooti.
Chinmaya Vibhuti. M.V.Ruparelia.
Chinmaya Vibhuti is a Vision Centre developed by the Central Chinmaya Trust, a leading non-profit Spiritual Organization, famous world wide for promoting India’s Cultural Heritage. This Complex is meant to keep India’s Great Son & Visionary Saint Swami Chinmayanandji`s vision ever glowing with various activities for Spiritual Development of devotees and all those desire such development through appropriate training courses & Camps. It is situated in the lap of Sahyadri Mountains at the picturesque village of Kolwan amidst the unimaginably beautiful natural surroundings, 40 km from Pune, Maharashtra (1 hour journey by road) and 135 km from Mumbai Ashram at Powai (3 hrs road journey).It is built on 70 acres of land.
It has comfortable accommodation that can house up to 900 persons in different blocks given different names with self contained rooms with hot water facility by solar system and European style toilets. It has a hygienic dining hall, called Annashri with large kitchen, where 600 persons can take meals at a time. It has 1008-capacity auditorium, called Sudharma with Bose Sound System. It has other two multi purpose seminar halls. There is a nicely built Chinmaya Maruti Mandir. There are 8 A/C Dance & Music Studios and a state of the art residential school of Indian Classical Music & Dance. Chinmaya Jeevan Darshan is worth visiting. It is a state of art permanent Exhibition depicting the life, work & teachings of Pujya Swami Chinmayanand. It`s each wall talks to you in the hearing instrument given to you, when you enter and changes the subject, when you move to other wall on the subject depicted on that wall/portion of the Hall. Chinmaya Vani is the largest book, CD & souvenir store worth seeing and purchasing. Shri Pranav Ganesh Mandir, Chinmaya medical clinic Dhanvanatri, Chilla rooms for riyaz, state of art library & recording studio, 2000 capacity ampitheater, Vedic Garden Paths, Annand Sarovar – an artificial lake with capacity of 1 crore litres of water, other halls & class rooms with AC arrangements having 45 to 200 capacity are under construction.
Camps on different subjects are held from time to time and you can join the camp by contacting the offices shown below by paying prescribed Registration Fee (generally Rs 200) and Rs 400 per day per individual for stay on sharing basis, for morning tea at 7, breakfast at 8-15, lunch at 12-45, tea at 15-30 & dinner at 8-15. Even without joining camps also, you can come & stay here for any number of days for attaining spiritual peace and happiness by advance intimation by paying daily charges and enjoy the Nature & Spiritual Presence of Chinmayanandji in the entire Complex.
Contact Details: Mumbai:09820291792 02228575806; 28572828: Contact Shri H.K.Hinduja. E/Mail: hinduja@chinmayamission.com
Shri R.G. Nene, CEO, Chinmaya Vibhuti, PO Kolwan-412108. Taluka Mulshi. Dist. Pune. Mobile: 09850835474. E/Mail:ravi.nene@chinmayamission.com
Chinmaya Vibhuti is a Vision Centre developed by the Central Chinmaya Trust, a leading non-profit Spiritual Organization, famous world wide for promoting India’s Cultural Heritage. This Complex is meant to keep India’s Great Son & Visionary Saint Swami Chinmayanandji`s vision ever glowing with various activities for Spiritual Development of devotees and all those desire such development through appropriate training courses & Camps. It is situated in the lap of Sahyadri Mountains at the picturesque village of Kolwan amidst the unimaginably beautiful natural surroundings, 40 km from Pune, Maharashtra (1 hour journey by road) and 135 km from Mumbai Ashram at Powai (3 hrs road journey).It is built on 70 acres of land.
It has comfortable accommodation that can house up to 900 persons in different blocks given different names with self contained rooms with hot water facility by solar system and European style toilets. It has a hygienic dining hall, called Annashri with large kitchen, where 600 persons can take meals at a time. It has 1008-capacity auditorium, called Sudharma with Bose Sound System. It has other two multi purpose seminar halls. There is a nicely built Chinmaya Maruti Mandir. There are 8 A/C Dance & Music Studios and a state of the art residential school of Indian Classical Music & Dance. Chinmaya Jeevan Darshan is worth visiting. It is a state of art permanent Exhibition depicting the life, work & teachings of Pujya Swami Chinmayanand. It`s each wall talks to you in the hearing instrument given to you, when you enter and changes the subject, when you move to other wall on the subject depicted on that wall/portion of the Hall. Chinmaya Vani is the largest book, CD & souvenir store worth seeing and purchasing. Shri Pranav Ganesh Mandir, Chinmaya medical clinic Dhanvanatri, Chilla rooms for riyaz, state of art library & recording studio, 2000 capacity ampitheater, Vedic Garden Paths, Annand Sarovar – an artificial lake with capacity of 1 crore litres of water, other halls & class rooms with AC arrangements having 45 to 200 capacity are under construction.
Camps on different subjects are held from time to time and you can join the camp by contacting the offices shown below by paying prescribed Registration Fee (generally Rs 200) and Rs 400 per day per individual for stay on sharing basis, for morning tea at 7, breakfast at 8-15, lunch at 12-45, tea at 15-30 & dinner at 8-15. Even without joining camps also, you can come & stay here for any number of days for attaining spiritual peace and happiness by advance intimation by paying daily charges and enjoy the Nature & Spiritual Presence of Chinmayanandji in the entire Complex.
Contact Details: Mumbai:09820291792 02228575806; 28572828: Contact Shri H.K.Hinduja. E/Mail: hinduja@chinmayamission.com
Shri R.G. Nene, CEO, Chinmaya Vibhuti, PO Kolwan-412108. Taluka Mulshi. Dist. Pune. Mobile: 09850835474. E/Mail:ravi.nene@chinmayamission.com
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
New Reverse Mortgage Loan-Payments till both survive!
Life Long Reverse Mortgage Scheme:
Now, Central Bank of India & Star Union Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co. Ltd. have launched an Annuity Product called Cent Swabhiman Plus on 10-12-09, a Reverse Mortgage Loan Annuity (RMLA)- a unique & tailor-made product facilitating Senior Citizens to avail regular payments throughout life till both die, as against 15/20 years by other Schemes and that too with substantially higher payments than other Schemes. Rate of interest charged is 9.5(to be reset every 2 years) in place of 10.25 to 12% in other Schemes.60 to 75% of property value(to be revalued every 3 years) is considered for giving annuity, which can be taken at 25% as lump sum and remaining or full amount in monthly, quarterly, annually etc, as desired by borrower. The borrower should be of 60 & above and spouse 55 & above. Payment will be made by Insurance Company & not Central Bank. Keeping in view 2 schemes of repurchase of the mortgaged property by heirs, monthly payment per lakh works out to Rs. 396 or Rs 288 p.m. for property value of Rs 1 lakh. On death of the borrower, little higher payment is made to the surviving spouse. Payments made under this Annuity Scheme is taxable.
Now, Central Bank of India & Star Union Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co. Ltd. have launched an Annuity Product called Cent Swabhiman Plus on 10-12-09, a Reverse Mortgage Loan Annuity (RMLA)- a unique & tailor-made product facilitating Senior Citizens to avail regular payments throughout life till both die, as against 15/20 years by other Schemes and that too with substantially higher payments than other Schemes. Rate of interest charged is 9.5(to be reset every 2 years) in place of 10.25 to 12% in other Schemes.60 to 75% of property value(to be revalued every 3 years) is considered for giving annuity, which can be taken at 25% as lump sum and remaining or full amount in monthly, quarterly, annually etc, as desired by borrower. The borrower should be of 60 & above and spouse 55 & above. Payment will be made by Insurance Company & not Central Bank. Keeping in view 2 schemes of repurchase of the mortgaged property by heirs, monthly payment per lakh works out to Rs. 396 or Rs 288 p.m. for property value of Rs 1 lakh. On death of the borrower, little higher payment is made to the surviving spouse. Payments made under this Annuity Scheme is taxable.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
National Policy of Older Persons,99-Review.
To Date: 18-12-09.
Shri Mukul Wasnik,
Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment,
Government of India, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi-110001.
Dear Sir,
Sub: Reviewing the National Policy of Older Persons, 1999.
Ref: Your Ministry?s letter no. 15-37(6)/07-08/AG dt 20-11-09 in reply to my letter dt 27-5-09 to Prime Minister of India.
1. For our request to give a comprehensive plan for Senior Citizens covering all points enumerated in NPOP,99 and to create a Welfare Fund for Elders early, it has been advised in your above that 10 years have passed since the announcement of the Policy and that the Policy is being reviewed. It is hoped that the Policy is being reviewed after 10 years for making it more Elder-Friendly and not for adverse/down sizing amendments to this wonderful piece of Policy containing 98 Paras, covering all aspects of life of Elders of our Country. We request you to appoint a Committee of prominent Senior Citizens for this Review also, as was done for formation of this Policy.
2. As the Policy has not been implemented in right spirit by most of the Stake-Holders even after 10 years, resulting in Abuse of Elders of our Country, it is requested to propose a legislation defining the scope and duties of all Stake-Holders viz Nodal Ministry, other Central Ministries, State/UT authorities, Municipal-Panchayat authorities, Public Sector Undertakings, Major Corporates, Big Business Houses employing large number, Trusts, NGOs, Powerful Media etc. Even Chief Information Commissioner, Delhi expressed his displeasure on 27-6-08 in Case no. CIC/MA/A/2008/00645 of your Ministry that the Policy adopted is not effectively implemented resulting in Senior Citizens being deprived of the benefits assured to them. CIC directed your Ministry to clearly outline the Plan of Action & indicate its outcome for the LARGER BENEFITS OF THE SOCIETY. Your Ministry has not complied with this Statutory Directive of CIC, Delhi so far even after 18 MONTHS! While reviewing, the Nodal Ministry has to be provided with wide powers (teeth) to get implementation done as per fixed targets. This is absolutely necessary, as Nodal Ministry continues to be of the view that this Policy is only a guiding factor and its role is only of persuasive nature and it can not direct the implementing agencies to implement a particular provision within a fixed target ( Ministry?s letter of same no. dt 11-7-08). Most of Central Ministries feel and act indifferently and even give in writing that they are not concerned with this Policy and it is only the Nodal Ministry, which has to take action. Some Ministry has even said that they have not seen the Policy even in the year 2008-09! Most of the States & Union Territories have not yet adopted this Policy even after 10 years nor have constituted State Councils. No other Stake- Holders have been told in writing so far about their role in this Policy by Nodal Ministry or any other Ministry. Nodal Ministry is refusing/regretting to issue any instructions to any of these Stake-Holders but expects that they will do their part! Just as it is statutorily provided in Parents & Senior Citizen?s Welfare Act, 2007 to provide at least one Oldmen`s House(should be called Senior Citizens Homes) in each district, legislation must be provided to provide various facilities by Municipality/Panchayat/States within a stipulated time, as laid down in your Integrated Programme. Creation of a separate Ministry, as demanded by several Organizations may also be considered at this stage for expeditious implementation of this all-aspects-covering Policy. Separate Directorates must be provided in each Ministry and State/Municipal offices for Senior Citizens.
3. Majority of Senior Citizens are sober, introvert, aloof type, God fearing and resigned to FATE! Most are not inclined to adapt new active Life Style after retirement and many feel that now they have to rest and wait for their turn to go up etc! It is therefore necessary for the Government and the Society/Media to enthuse this lot of citizens, who are large in number and going to survive for long even without their wishing! Keeping in view the economic progress of the Country and deteriorating financial position of Senior Citizens due to reduction of interest rates and surmounting dearness for food items & bare necessities, Policy has to provide concrete action plans, if necessary by legislation also, to ensure financial security; healthy life; social interaction opportunities; proper utilization tasks for Senior Citizens ; more liberal provisions in all matters for older old(80 & above); special colonies for Senior Citizens; large number of Day Care Centers, Holiday Homes/Resorts/Convalescent Homes; concessions in entertainment places, travels, hotels, resorts etc; well defined detailed role of Media, early creation of National Association of Older Persons(NAOP) at Center & State/District/Locality level and fixing tasks to be carried out by such Associations. Little force/compulsion has to be used to get results and this should not be shied away, keeping in view how Smoking in trains & Public Places and Processions on Public Roads were curbed by force/legislation giving valuable advantages to the entire Community.
4. The following suggestions may also be kept in view, while reviewing this Grand Policy:-
i) No provision/para of this Policy may be deleted/downsized in any manner, as all Paras cover very important aspects of life of Senior Citizens.
ii) Demographic Trends: As per latest trends, number of Senior Citizens not only in India but in the entire World shall exceed number of Children/Youths in next few years. In view of this, the Policy has to be more liberal and more caring for elders, which will also form a big Electoral Force. The expectation of Policy,99 about life span of 67 years in 2011-16 has been surpassed and it may cross 100 in those years. Keeping in view this huge number with longer life span, Revised Policy should cater seriously for welfare of this and also provide different avenues of their useful utilization. As there will be large number of Older Old (above 80), special & specific provision for them in the Revised Policy shall be necessary.
iii) Financial Security: As we have adopted Global Capitalistic System, there shall be more poor and less rich and this can not be helped in view of the present trend of Economic Development. As there will be more BPL Senior Citizens and as the position of Above Poverty Line but not coming within Income Tax Limit Senior Citizens shall also be precarious, the Policy has to provide specific Financial Security for both the groups. The present system of classifying Senior Citizens as BPL is defective and needs immediate change, as detailed in my letter dt 13-10-09 to P.M. (copy enclosed ?Annexure I). The present quantum of Rs 200 by Central and similar contribution by State is a mockery of human being and World Organizations must be laughing at this gesture of such a wealthy country on way to become number one and as such sufficient pension for a human may be laid down in revised Policy for BPL & APL Senior Citizens. The proposed New Tax Law from 2011-12 is another blow on Financial Security of Senior Citizens and specific provisions in new Policy exempting Senior Citizens from adverse provisions shall be necessary, considering all points raised in my letter dt 12-9-09 (copy enclosed ?Annexure II). Unless, Nodal Ministry makes out a very strong case for Financial Security to all BPL & APL Senior Citizens, depicting the miseries they will be facing in the coming years with declining income and mounting expenditure for food & bear necessities, majority of Elders of our Country can not think of decent & dignified life. Employment should be allowed to be continued till Senior Citizens desire and are fit to work and age bar must be removed. Retired employees of the Government, Public Sector and big Business Houses must be statutorily provided same facilities as serving employees to avoid financial burden on only the Government. Even as per present Policy, all Departments and Employers should be asked to provide various facilities to their retired staff, as asked by Nodal Ministry to Railway Ministry as brought out in Annexure III.
iv) Health Care & Nutrition: As the Life-Span shall increase and number of older old increases, it will be necessary to provide more and more free/subsidized health services to all Senior Citizens. In addition to free service by State/Municipal Hospitals, Private Hospitals, Trusts etc will have to be made to provide subsidized service to Senior Citizens and pay special attention to Senior Citizens, if necessary by legislation. A controlling authority like IRDA shall be absolutely necessary for private Hospitals to control prices of various facilities, operations etc. In addition to present Health Insurance Schemes for unorganized sector BPL Senior Citizens, similar provision is required to be made for similar scheme for APL Senior Citizens also. Appropriate Medi-Claim Insurance with affordable premium from private sector for all Senior Citizens desiring the same should be provided, if necessary through proper legislation. Concrete steps to provide Geriatric Care, Physiotherapy, House Call System, Free/Subsidized Mid-Day Meals, Dinners etc for nutrition, as provided to children at present etc will have to be provided. Medicines must be provided at subsidized cost. Separate ques for Senior Citizens are not yet provided in any of Hospitals of Health Ministry at Delhi, which indicates the attitude of Central Ministries towards this Policy. Separate ques for Hospitals, Dispensaries, Pathological Laboratories, Private Clinics, Banks, Post Offices and all places requiring such ques must be provided, if necessary by legislation. Doctors & Para-Medical staff must be given special training for geriatric care and proper behavior with elders.
v) Shelter: Special colonies with full facilities should be provided by legislation instead of simply making a provision in the Policy for encouraging the private builders! Certain quotas in all buildings like Chief Minister?s quota must be provided for Senior Citizens. Just as specific space is to be left for garden etc in each colony by legislation, provision should be made for encouraging/enforcing all builders to provide special colonies and facilities for Senior Citizens. More & more houses should be available for Senior Citizens on rent basis. Housing Boards must also give preference to Senior Citizens. Big colonies must have Day Care Centers.
vi) Welfare & other areas: As stated earlier, most of Senior Citizens having inertia & having resigned to fate, it is necessary that they are encouraged/forced to become members of their Government recognized Associations of their locality and then only issued all-India Identity Cards for various concessions. This will ensure their social inter action and improve their life styles. Each Association at all levels should be assigned specific tasks like having full details of all Senior Citizens of their area (Census); Civic problems of their area (LAM); Social Programmes like Polio eradication; Participating in all advisory committees of State/Railway/Municipal/Banks etc; Inculcating Value Systems in children through lectures, programmes, picnics etc with school children continuously; helping in grievance solving of Senior Citizens & other citizens of area etc. Each Association should be provided with sufficient accommodation with usual facilities of Day Care Center with Gym / Physiotherapy facilities, Grant-in-Aid, ensuring sending by all concerned all orders/circulars affecting Senior Citizens. Your Web-Site and Web-Sites of all concerned must be kept up to date and should have on-line grievance recording with status position. Your Web-Site does not contain all the facilities/concessions given to Senior Citizens by your Ministry & all other stake holders, though provided in the Policy and proclaimed by your Ministry to contain all information. There is a need for your Ministry to publish a Monthly Magazine or a Newsletter giving all information from time to time. Sufficient reservation in Transport Services is not provided, which must be done keeping in view the good effect of traveling. Railways, though the lifeline of the country, have not provided any reservation for Senior Citizens, except 2 berths along with women of 45 years and that too when traveling alone! No separate coach in suburban trains inspite of repeated representations is provided, though special suburban trains are being provided day in and day out, though not going fully packed. Senior Citizens are more handicapped and more in numbers to handicapped but are deprived of this facility given to handicaps. Representations/complaints/ court cases of Senior Citizens are not being given any priority. There is much talk about PPP and CSR and advantage of this should be given for facilities to Senior Citizens by providing some compulsory/voluntary action by corporate world. New policy must provide for Self Development of Senior Citizens. Many more Nana-Nani Parks, Recreation Centers etc should be provided with time schedule.
vii) Media: No action is taken by Nodal or Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to involve Media for creating proper atmosphere in the Society or Government Machinery to highlight the problems of Senior Citizens, as laid down in the Policy,99. New Policy must realize the importance of this powerful IVth Estate of our Democracy and give specific tasks to Media. Each Newspaper must give one page/a corner every day or atleast some days in a week exclusively for matters pertaining to Senior Citizens. Each TV channel should also give a fixed slot every day for Senior Citizens. Ministry of I & B must also give programmes for Senior Citizens at fixed days and timings instead of any time they like, as is being done at present. They had asked for literature and soft wear etc related to issues pertaining to Senior Citizens in Inter-Ministerial Committee held on 28-3-07. In absence of such material by Nodal Ministry to various Stake Holders, it is difficult to provide programmes for Senior Citizens. Senior Citizens must be encouraged and paid honorarium for writing in Newspapers and participating in TV programmes.
viii) Implementation: Nodal Ministry & other Central Ministries and States have failed miserably to comply with various Paras (91 to 95) of Policy,99 for implementation, especially para 93, which gives unambiguous orders for implementation by fixing targets. New Policy, if necessary must give statutory orders to all Stake-Holders in clear terms to do their part of job sincerely, speedily and seriously. As NCOP and SCOVA etc have miserably failed, it is requested to form NAOP (National Association of Older Persons) laid down in para 96 with full powers to negotiate with you and specific duties, as enumerated above. Earlier this is done, it would be better for the Government, Society and Senior Citizens. Similar Associations at grass route levels may also be expedited.
It is hoped that review will not be finalized without consulting the prominent representatives of Senior Citizens and their Organizations and without notifying the proposed changes in media for information/comments of all citizens.
Thanking You,
Yours Sincerely,
(M.V.Ruparelia)
Shri Mukul Wasnik,
Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment,
Government of India, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi-110001.
Dear Sir,
Sub: Reviewing the National Policy of Older Persons, 1999.
Ref: Your Ministry?s letter no. 15-37(6)/07-08/AG dt 20-11-09 in reply to my letter dt 27-5-09 to Prime Minister of India.
1. For our request to give a comprehensive plan for Senior Citizens covering all points enumerated in NPOP,99 and to create a Welfare Fund for Elders early, it has been advised in your above that 10 years have passed since the announcement of the Policy and that the Policy is being reviewed. It is hoped that the Policy is being reviewed after 10 years for making it more Elder-Friendly and not for adverse/down sizing amendments to this wonderful piece of Policy containing 98 Paras, covering all aspects of life of Elders of our Country. We request you to appoint a Committee of prominent Senior Citizens for this Review also, as was done for formation of this Policy.
2. As the Policy has not been implemented in right spirit by most of the Stake-Holders even after 10 years, resulting in Abuse of Elders of our Country, it is requested to propose a legislation defining the scope and duties of all Stake-Holders viz Nodal Ministry, other Central Ministries, State/UT authorities, Municipal-Panchayat authorities, Public Sector Undertakings, Major Corporates, Big Business Houses employing large number, Trusts, NGOs, Powerful Media etc. Even Chief Information Commissioner, Delhi expressed his displeasure on 27-6-08 in Case no. CIC/MA/A/2008/00645 of your Ministry that the Policy adopted is not effectively implemented resulting in Senior Citizens being deprived of the benefits assured to them. CIC directed your Ministry to clearly outline the Plan of Action & indicate its outcome for the LARGER BENEFITS OF THE SOCIETY. Your Ministry has not complied with this Statutory Directive of CIC, Delhi so far even after 18 MONTHS! While reviewing, the Nodal Ministry has to be provided with wide powers (teeth) to get implementation done as per fixed targets. This is absolutely necessary, as Nodal Ministry continues to be of the view that this Policy is only a guiding factor and its role is only of persuasive nature and it can not direct the implementing agencies to implement a particular provision within a fixed target ( Ministry?s letter of same no. dt 11-7-08). Most of Central Ministries feel and act indifferently and even give in writing that they are not concerned with this Policy and it is only the Nodal Ministry, which has to take action. Some Ministry has even said that they have not seen the Policy even in the year 2008-09! Most of the States & Union Territories have not yet adopted this Policy even after 10 years nor have constituted State Councils. No other Stake- Holders have been told in writing so far about their role in this Policy by Nodal Ministry or any other Ministry. Nodal Ministry is refusing/regretting to issue any instructions to any of these Stake-Holders but expects that they will do their part! Just as it is statutorily provided in Parents & Senior Citizen?s Welfare Act, 2007 to provide at least one Oldmen`s House(should be called Senior Citizens Homes) in each district, legislation must be provided to provide various facilities by Municipality/Panchayat/States within a stipulated time, as laid down in your Integrated Programme. Creation of a separate Ministry, as demanded by several Organizations may also be considered at this stage for expeditious implementation of this all-aspects-covering Policy. Separate Directorates must be provided in each Ministry and State/Municipal offices for Senior Citizens.
3. Majority of Senior Citizens are sober, introvert, aloof type, God fearing and resigned to FATE! Most are not inclined to adapt new active Life Style after retirement and many feel that now they have to rest and wait for their turn to go up etc! It is therefore necessary for the Government and the Society/Media to enthuse this lot of citizens, who are large in number and going to survive for long even without their wishing! Keeping in view the economic progress of the Country and deteriorating financial position of Senior Citizens due to reduction of interest rates and surmounting dearness for food items & bare necessities, Policy has to provide concrete action plans, if necessary by legislation also, to ensure financial security; healthy life; social interaction opportunities; proper utilization tasks for Senior Citizens ; more liberal provisions in all matters for older old(80 & above); special colonies for Senior Citizens; large number of Day Care Centers, Holiday Homes/Resorts/Convalescent Homes; concessions in entertainment places, travels, hotels, resorts etc; well defined detailed role of Media, early creation of National Association of Older Persons(NAOP) at Center & State/District/Locality level and fixing tasks to be carried out by such Associations. Little force/compulsion has to be used to get results and this should not be shied away, keeping in view how Smoking in trains & Public Places and Processions on Public Roads were curbed by force/legislation giving valuable advantages to the entire Community.
4. The following suggestions may also be kept in view, while reviewing this Grand Policy:-
i) No provision/para of this Policy may be deleted/downsized in any manner, as all Paras cover very important aspects of life of Senior Citizens.
ii) Demographic Trends: As per latest trends, number of Senior Citizens not only in India but in the entire World shall exceed number of Children/Youths in next few years. In view of this, the Policy has to be more liberal and more caring for elders, which will also form a big Electoral Force. The expectation of Policy,99 about life span of 67 years in 2011-16 has been surpassed and it may cross 100 in those years. Keeping in view this huge number with longer life span, Revised Policy should cater seriously for welfare of this and also provide different avenues of their useful utilization. As there will be large number of Older Old (above 80), special & specific provision for them in the Revised Policy shall be necessary.
iii) Financial Security: As we have adopted Global Capitalistic System, there shall be more poor and less rich and this can not be helped in view of the present trend of Economic Development. As there will be more BPL Senior Citizens and as the position of Above Poverty Line but not coming within Income Tax Limit Senior Citizens shall also be precarious, the Policy has to provide specific Financial Security for both the groups. The present system of classifying Senior Citizens as BPL is defective and needs immediate change, as detailed in my letter dt 13-10-09 to P.M. (copy enclosed ?Annexure I). The present quantum of Rs 200 by Central and similar contribution by State is a mockery of human being and World Organizations must be laughing at this gesture of such a wealthy country on way to become number one and as such sufficient pension for a human may be laid down in revised Policy for BPL & APL Senior Citizens. The proposed New Tax Law from 2011-12 is another blow on Financial Security of Senior Citizens and specific provisions in new Policy exempting Senior Citizens from adverse provisions shall be necessary, considering all points raised in my letter dt 12-9-09 (copy enclosed ?Annexure II). Unless, Nodal Ministry makes out a very strong case for Financial Security to all BPL & APL Senior Citizens, depicting the miseries they will be facing in the coming years with declining income and mounting expenditure for food & bear necessities, majority of Elders of our Country can not think of decent & dignified life. Employment should be allowed to be continued till Senior Citizens desire and are fit to work and age bar must be removed. Retired employees of the Government, Public Sector and big Business Houses must be statutorily provided same facilities as serving employees to avoid financial burden on only the Government. Even as per present Policy, all Departments and Employers should be asked to provide various facilities to their retired staff, as asked by Nodal Ministry to Railway Ministry as brought out in Annexure III.
iv) Health Care & Nutrition: As the Life-Span shall increase and number of older old increases, it will be necessary to provide more and more free/subsidized health services to all Senior Citizens. In addition to free service by State/Municipal Hospitals, Private Hospitals, Trusts etc will have to be made to provide subsidized service to Senior Citizens and pay special attention to Senior Citizens, if necessary by legislation. A controlling authority like IRDA shall be absolutely necessary for private Hospitals to control prices of various facilities, operations etc. In addition to present Health Insurance Schemes for unorganized sector BPL Senior Citizens, similar provision is required to be made for similar scheme for APL Senior Citizens also. Appropriate Medi-Claim Insurance with affordable premium from private sector for all Senior Citizens desiring the same should be provided, if necessary through proper legislation. Concrete steps to provide Geriatric Care, Physiotherapy, House Call System, Free/Subsidized Mid-Day Meals, Dinners etc for nutrition, as provided to children at present etc will have to be provided. Medicines must be provided at subsidized cost. Separate ques for Senior Citizens are not yet provided in any of Hospitals of Health Ministry at Delhi, which indicates the attitude of Central Ministries towards this Policy. Separate ques for Hospitals, Dispensaries, Pathological Laboratories, Private Clinics, Banks, Post Offices and all places requiring such ques must be provided, if necessary by legislation. Doctors & Para-Medical staff must be given special training for geriatric care and proper behavior with elders.
v) Shelter: Special colonies with full facilities should be provided by legislation instead of simply making a provision in the Policy for encouraging the private builders! Certain quotas in all buildings like Chief Minister?s quota must be provided for Senior Citizens. Just as specific space is to be left for garden etc in each colony by legislation, provision should be made for encouraging/enforcing all builders to provide special colonies and facilities for Senior Citizens. More & more houses should be available for Senior Citizens on rent basis. Housing Boards must also give preference to Senior Citizens. Big colonies must have Day Care Centers.
vi) Welfare & other areas: As stated earlier, most of Senior Citizens having inertia & having resigned to fate, it is necessary that they are encouraged/forced to become members of their Government recognized Associations of their locality and then only issued all-India Identity Cards for various concessions. This will ensure their social inter action and improve their life styles. Each Association at all levels should be assigned specific tasks like having full details of all Senior Citizens of their area (Census); Civic problems of their area (LAM); Social Programmes like Polio eradication; Participating in all advisory committees of State/Railway/Municipal/Banks etc; Inculcating Value Systems in children through lectures, programmes, picnics etc with school children continuously; helping in grievance solving of Senior Citizens & other citizens of area etc. Each Association should be provided with sufficient accommodation with usual facilities of Day Care Center with Gym / Physiotherapy facilities, Grant-in-Aid, ensuring sending by all concerned all orders/circulars affecting Senior Citizens. Your Web-Site and Web-Sites of all concerned must be kept up to date and should have on-line grievance recording with status position. Your Web-Site does not contain all the facilities/concessions given to Senior Citizens by your Ministry & all other stake holders, though provided in the Policy and proclaimed by your Ministry to contain all information. There is a need for your Ministry to publish a Monthly Magazine or a Newsletter giving all information from time to time. Sufficient reservation in Transport Services is not provided, which must be done keeping in view the good effect of traveling. Railways, though the lifeline of the country, have not provided any reservation for Senior Citizens, except 2 berths along with women of 45 years and that too when traveling alone! No separate coach in suburban trains inspite of repeated representations is provided, though special suburban trains are being provided day in and day out, though not going fully packed. Senior Citizens are more handicapped and more in numbers to handicapped but are deprived of this facility given to handicaps. Representations/complaints/ court cases of Senior Citizens are not being given any priority. There is much talk about PPP and CSR and advantage of this should be given for facilities to Senior Citizens by providing some compulsory/voluntary action by corporate world. New policy must provide for Self Development of Senior Citizens. Many more Nana-Nani Parks, Recreation Centers etc should be provided with time schedule.
vii) Media: No action is taken by Nodal or Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to involve Media for creating proper atmosphere in the Society or Government Machinery to highlight the problems of Senior Citizens, as laid down in the Policy,99. New Policy must realize the importance of this powerful IVth Estate of our Democracy and give specific tasks to Media. Each Newspaper must give one page/a corner every day or atleast some days in a week exclusively for matters pertaining to Senior Citizens. Each TV channel should also give a fixed slot every day for Senior Citizens. Ministry of I & B must also give programmes for Senior Citizens at fixed days and timings instead of any time they like, as is being done at present. They had asked for literature and soft wear etc related to issues pertaining to Senior Citizens in Inter-Ministerial Committee held on 28-3-07. In absence of such material by Nodal Ministry to various Stake Holders, it is difficult to provide programmes for Senior Citizens. Senior Citizens must be encouraged and paid honorarium for writing in Newspapers and participating in TV programmes.
viii) Implementation: Nodal Ministry & other Central Ministries and States have failed miserably to comply with various Paras (91 to 95) of Policy,99 for implementation, especially para 93, which gives unambiguous orders for implementation by fixing targets. New Policy, if necessary must give statutory orders to all Stake-Holders in clear terms to do their part of job sincerely, speedily and seriously. As NCOP and SCOVA etc have miserably failed, it is requested to form NAOP (National Association of Older Persons) laid down in para 96 with full powers to negotiate with you and specific duties, as enumerated above. Earlier this is done, it would be better for the Government, Society and Senior Citizens. Similar Associations at grass route levels may also be expedited.
It is hoped that review will not be finalized without consulting the prominent representatives of Senior Citizens and their Organizations and without notifying the proposed changes in media for information/comments of all citizens.
Thanking You,
Yours Sincerely,
(M.V.Ruparelia)
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