Website: http://scnsd.posterous.com/ Email: mvrup@yahoo.co.in M.09821732855.
M.V.Ruparelia, A 503 Rashmi Utsav, Near Jangid Estate & Vijay Park, Mira Road (East), Dist. Thane-Maharashtra-401107.
MEMRANDUM TO OUR
BELOVED CHIEF MINISTER Honorable Shri Prithviraj Chavan
BY THE SENIOR CITIZENS OF MAHARASHTRA.
Date: 14th August 2011.
To,
Honorable Shri Prithviraj Chavan
Chief Minister of Maharashtra
Mantralaya
Mumbai: 400032.
Sub: Memorandum for Senior Citizens Issues.
Ref: (i)Senior Citizens National Solidarity Day: 16th August 2011
(ii) My letter & E/Mail dt 14-6-11 for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day to you by name not yet replied.
Respected Sir,
We are submitting this Memorandum on behalf of 100 Lakh (1 crore )Senior Citizens (60+) in Maharashtra State, about 66% of whom are poor, 90% are without any social or health security and over 20% are lonely, surviving under threat of criminal attacks. Even after 50 years of formation of the State of Maharashtra, very little has been done by the Government to improve the quality of life of its Senior Citizens, who during their young and adult age have played an important role in development of the State and the Country. While appreciating the good work like implementation of Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (Shravan Bal Yojana) and fare concession to 65+ Senior Citizens in State Transport Bus Fare, Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2010, we would like to say that a lot remains to be done by this progressive State of Maharashtra.
You will agree with the fact that elders have waited for years on end to get attention from our rulers but all that we have received is indifference towards our issues. While we are keen to play our role in the development of our Country and the activities for the welfare of community, we also demand that our concerns must be addressed.
Last year on 16th August 2010 we (JAC) organized all India ‘Senior citizens National PROTEST Day’ and in every District and Taluka of Maharashtra, Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Senior Citizens was formed by 23 Organizations/ Federations, Associations, NGOs working for Senior Citizens to protest against continuous neglect and ignorance by the central & state government. In Mumbai, around 2000 Senior Citizens assembled at Azad Maidan at 2 pm on 16th August to raise their concern with government authority. The delegation met state minister for Social Justice, the Hon. Minister Shri Sachin Ahir and submitted the memorandum and he gave patient hearing and appreciated our effort as united forum for Elder Right. On this occasion the Hon. Minister accepted most of our demands in principle including the formation of Senior Citizens Commissionerate. In this meeting, he asked Shri J.N. Rathod, the then Dy. Secretary to call an urgent meet and discuss various issues including implementation of NPOP and Maintenance & Welfare of Parents & Senior Citizens Act.
Further the delegation of JAC was also called for meeting with Governor of Maharashtra Shri K. Sankaranarayanan at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai on 7th Sep 2010. The Governor assured the delegation that he would take up the issues raised by the delegation with the Chief Minister.
On request by Governor on 17th Sep 2010 Shri Satish M. Gavai, the then Principal Secretary ,Social Justice, Special Assistance, Government of Maharashtra called the meeting of Joint Action Committee and promised to get approved the draft NPOP by the cabinet and implement the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act immediately.
Since then, though we had couple of meetings with Social Justice Ministry, nothing concrete action has emerged except formation of Tribunals for Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2010 and promice to declare State Policy for Senior Citizens/Older Person before 15-8-11.
Please note that in state budget 2011 -12, Maharashtra Government has once again shown its apathy towards its 100 lakh Senior Citizens. The state government has been continuously neglecting and ignoring its Senior Citizens. We strongly condemn the step motherly treatment towards Senior Citizens by Government of Maharashtra.
This year too on 16th August, 11, we have National and State Senior Citizens National Solidarity Day to once again highlight our issues and to demand concrete action from State government. We request the Government to consider the following pending demands urgently and concede to them.
- Declaration of State Policy on Senior Citizens -
Senior Citizens Organisations had jointly presented the Draft of State Policy on Senior Citizens (Older Persons) in 2002 but the State Govt. in 2004 declared a 1 ½ page State Policy, which too remains mostly unimplemented. We again met at Yashada and resubmitted the Draft to the then CM in 2009 but no action appears to have been taken to declare the State Policy. The Union Govt., declared the National Policy on Older Persons in 1999 and it is unfortunate that even after 12 years, the Maharashtra State does not find time to declare its State Policy. We have been given assurance by Socail Justice ministry in few meetings since last 16th August 2010 that the Policy will be declared before 15th August 2011. Please declare it immediately.
- Formation of State Council of Senior Citizens and Commission -
For effective promotion and coordination of the concerns of Senior Citizens, the Government should form a State Council of Senior Citizens under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Social Justice with representatives from concerned Govt. Departments and representatives of prominent Senior Citizens Federation, Organizations, NGOs working for Senior Citizens (list of some of them is shown in margin of first page), Social Science Institutions and Media, as members. A State Commission/ commissionerate for Senior Citizens should be established for implementation of the State Policy all over the State and also implementation of Acts like Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act and other Policy and Acts concerning the Senior Citizens. This was agreed by Hon. Minister Shri Sachin Ahir in one of the meetings.
3. Implementation of Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.
We are thankful to the Government of Maharashtra that they have adopted the Act, framed the Rules and notified it in on 2010. The Act needs to be fully operational all over the State immediately. We, therefore, request the Government to give publicity to the Act, to create awareness about the Act, particularly in rural areas. As provided in this Act, work to establish an Old Age Home in each District should also be started immediately.
4. Establishment of Multi-Service Day Care Centers.
There are 23 Municipal Corporations out of which only 2 (Pimpri–Chinchwad and Navi Mumbai) have started good numbers of Day Care Centers for Senior Citizens. To remove loneliness, to utilize their spare time for useful social activities and for improvement in physical and mental health, Senior Citizens need Multi-Service Day Care Centers in all Cities, towns, and large villages. The Govt. should make provisions so that all Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and Panchayats provide Day Care Centers in all parts of the State. We also demand to make provision to start Dementia Day Care Centers in big cities and at District and Taluka level.
5. Senior Citizens Cell in Municipal Corporations -
For effective implementation of State and Central Govt. Senior Citizens Schemes and also to address specific issues and concerns of our Elders, we Demand that all Municipal Corporations should have a Special Cell for Senior Citizens as is provided in Navi Mumbai. All Municipal Bus Services should also provide concession in fare for Senior Citizens. Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport provides 75% concession to Seniors.
Helplines like AASRA of Hyderabad Municipal Corporation should be started by all Municipal Corporations to protect the Senior Citizens from anti-social elements and their own family members.
6. Representation on Anudan Samities –
The State Govt. has Schemes like Shravan Bal Yojana, Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Anudan Yojana, Indira Gandhi Niradhar Bhoomiheen, Vidhawa Mahila Anudan Yojana, etc. for giving pension to poor Senior Citizens. But in many places, the needy Citizens do not get the pension. We request that representative of Senior Citizens Organizations and NGOs should be included in these Anudan Samitees as an unofficial member.
7. Health Insurance For Middle Class Senior Citizens -
Health Care is very vital necessity of all Senior Citizens but Health Care costs are so high that they cannot afford to have Health Insurance. We request that Rashtriya Swasthya Vima Yojana of the State should be modified to cover the middle class Senior Citizens with the BPL families and give them Health Insurance cover. The APL (Above Poverty Line) Senior Citizens would be able to pay moderate premium for such Insurance Cover. We also request the number of family members should not be restricted to 5 (five). Honorable Minister of State Shri Sachin Ahir had promised us of State-level Health Insurance Scheme for Senior Citizens (Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayi Yojana).
8. Give Benefits to 60+ Seniors (Not 65+) .
Central Government in Budget 2011-12 has accepted Senior Citizen as 60+ for BPL Pension & Exemption of Income Tax also. We request that the State should give financial benefits to all 60+ Senior Citizens in Shravan Bal Yojana, ST bus fare concession, etc. The bus concession should be extended to all including Volvo Buses.
9. Improvement in Vriddhashrams and help for Residents.
The condition of most of the Old Age Homes in the State is far from satisfactory. The Govt. should appoint a Regulatory Authority for implementing and monitoring minimum norms/standards of service in all Vriddhashrams with representation for Senior Citizens Associations / NGOs in District Committees. We also demand adequate funds to be given to run destitute old age homes. Voting right, old age pension and UID should be given to the Residents of Old Age Homes.
10. Old age Pension -
The Govt. of India has announced to pay Rs.500/- p.m. to 80+ BPL Senior Citizens. The State Govt. should contribute Rs.500/- to pay Rs.1,000/- to him. Under Shravan Bal yojana also the total pension amount should be raised to Rs.1,000/- p.m. for BPL poor.
11. Health Programme for Elderly.
District and Municipal Hospitals should have a special Geriatric Ward with latest facilities and all PHCs should provide special attention to Elderly. PHC standard to be improved with regular supply of drugs and medical professionals on lines suggested by WHO. We also demand fast implementation of National Programme for the Healthcare of the Elderly (NPHCE) started in February 2011 by Govt. of India. All Universities in the State should start Post-Graduate Diploma/Degree Courses in Geriatrics. Undergraduate medical and nursing courses should include essential training in Geriatrics.
12. Declaration of Comprehensive Policy on Dementia and Alzheimer's.
Dementia/Alzheimer’s are non-curable brain diseases affecting Senior Citizens with memory loss and behavior problems. As per ‘National Dementia Report 2010' submitted to Government of India, it is estimated that 3% of Senior Citizens suffer from some form of Dementia in State of Maharashtra and there will be around 100% increase in number of people with Dementia by 2026. So there is urgent need to form a Task Force of Eminent Psychiatrist, Neurologist, Gerontologist, Geriatricians, other medical professionals and representatives from Senior Citizens Organization and ARDSI –National organization working for Dementia. We promise government to extend all our cooperation for addressing this urgent Health issue of our Senior Citizens before it’s too late.
13. Kindly get 12 points, as brought out in my letter dt 12-6-11 addressed to you by name attended to very early.
We wish to point out that senior citizens comprise of around 10% of the total population and around 13% of the electorate and if you consider those who actually go for voting, we are 22% of effective electorate. You would agree that no Government can continue to ignore us for decades, at a stretch.
Sir, we seek your support for the basic rights of Senior Citizens of the Sate and we hope the Government of Maharashtra will take due note of these demands and help Senior Citizens to have a happy evening of their life.
Your positive and proactive approach will help the Elderly in the State to live in peace, security and dignity. We request you to give reply to this Memorandum very early in terms of para 66 of Office Manual, extract reproduced below.
Yours sincerely,
(M.V.Ruparelia)
Extracts of para 66 of the Manual of Office Procedure.
66. Prompt response to letters received-
(1) Each communication received from the Member of Parliament, a member of public, a recognized Association or a Public Body will be acknowledged within 15 days, followed by a reply within 15 days of acknowledge sent.
(2) Where (i) delay is anticipated in sending final reply or (ii) information has to be obtained from another Ministry or another office, an interim reply will be sent within a month (from date of receipt) indicating the possible date by which a final reply can be given.
3) If any such communication is wrongly addressed to a department, it will be transferred promptly (within a week) to appropriate department under intimation to the party concerned.
(4) Where the request of a member of Public can not be acceded to for any reason, reasons for not acceding to such a request should be given.
(5) As far as possible, requests from members of Public, should be looked at from the user’s point of view and not solely from the point of view of what may be administratively convenient.
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