To
Date: 13-7-13.
Shri
Manish Tewariji, Hon Minister of State,
Ministry
of Information & Broadcasting,
Government
of India, A Wing, Shastri Bhawan, Dr Rajendra Pd Road,
New Delhi 110015.
Respected Sir,
Sub: Welfare of 12 crore Elders of the Country forming
considerable portion of Electorate.
Ref: Our reference dt 2-8-12 to your predecessor on
which appropriate action is not taken even after almost one year.
We, 12 crore Elders of our Country welcome the
young, energetic, active and practical politician as our Minister for very
important Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
1. Our ancient
Culture respects Parents as Gods and Our Country is known for this throughout
the World. There has been deterioration in this thinking and our social customs
in recent times. In addition to lot of Abuse of Elders, as reported by Help Age
on 15-6-13, there are large numbers of cases of abandonments of helpless and
ailing Elders etc. Immediate action is required to be taken by your powerful
leadership to create and restore respect for Elders. This can be done only by
your Ministry under your active & energetic guidance and directives. As you
may be aware Government
of India had announced National Policy on Older Persons, 1999 on 13-2-99 with
the approval of Cabinet. Para 93 of the Policy directs each Ministry to implement the aspects
concerning them by preparing Five Year and Annual Action Plan with targets.
Para 12 to 23 of the Policy lays down Mandate & Policy Statement, which
require to be given wide publicity by your Ministry to create respect for
Elders in the Society & creating Awareness in concerned Government
Departments to take action sincerely & promptly on various provisions
concerning them. Para 15 of Policy visualizes that State will strengthen the
legitimate place of Elders in the Society and help them to live their last
phase of life with Purpose, Dignity & Peace. Para 18 envisages that age 60+
is a phase, when individual should have chances and opportunities to lead an
active, creative, productive and satisfying life. State has to strengthen inter
generational bonds and mutually supporting relationships. State has to
encourage capable Senior Citizens to provide service to other senior citizens
in need of help. It is necessary that the Family Support System continues to be
functional to discharge its caring responsibilities, sensitizing the young on
necessity & desirability of inter generational bonding etc. Each provision
in Policy is important and requires highlighting by your Ministry. Various
provisions of Maintenance & Welfare of Parents & Senior Citizens Act,
2007 about looking after Elders by Children, providing safety by Police etc also
need highlighting & propaganda by your Ministry.
2. Para 70
lays down that issues pertaining to Elders will be highlighted every year on 1st
October. Your Doordarshan & All India Radio etc have been doing this but it
has not been effective in bringing all issues to the notice of Society and
Government Authorities. Most of the issues have remained, as they were. On
World Elders Day on 1st October every year, more programmes for
longer time at pre declared times may help highlighting the changing situations
of Elders and identifying emerging issues and areas of action by various stake
holders. Now that 15th June has been declared World Elder Abuse
Awareness Day, more programmes on that day to ensure that Elder Abuse is
avoided are also necessary. Moreover, Radio having become less popular,
programmes on all channels of Doordarshan are necessary. Exhibition of your
Ministry`s Documentaries on Elders by distributing them to private channels,
NGOs and Senior Citizens Associations may bring better results. Cooperation of
all Newspapers, private TV Channels and Bollywood etc is also absolutely
necessary, as para 88 & 89 lays down creative use of entire Media for
highlighting continuously the changing situations of Elders, active ageing,
intergeneration bonds etc. Your Ministry has to lay down Policy/Law/Act
for entire Media/informal &
traditional communication channels of the Country to highlight all issues and
various provisions of Policy, every day/week, as you may decide by earmarking
special slots on regular basis. Your Ministry may like to prepare orientation
programmes on ageing for interaction of entire Media including your staff and
achieve the awareness in Society and Government machinery. Ministry of Social
Justice has been requesting your Ministry through Inter Ministry Committee
(IMC) agenda and meetings to play a more active role in educating the Society
about all issues relating to Senior Citizens, giving special slots, more
awareness programmes, keeping the concerns of elders in constant Public Focus.
Though some programmes are given on radio & Doordarshan, it has not brought
the required result. Only one episode of Satyamev Jayate has brought lot of
awareness. Pre advertised and pre fixed slots and participation of entire Media
including Bollywood, Newspapers & all TV channels are to be tapped and
encouraged/instructed by your Ministry.
3. We request you to look in to this very important
aspects of life of our elders by expeditious and sincere implementation of
Policy for benefit of 12 crore Elders of our Country. We observe that Elders of the Country are
repeatedly ignored by Central, State & Local Bodies. With your dynamic &
pleasant personality & tact of handling all situations very efficiently, we
are sure that you will do needful quickly, sincerely and set an example on all
Ministries by becoming Torch Bearer for highlighting the position of Elders of
the Country and restoring their legitimate place in Society.
4. We request you to give us
reply in terms of para 66 of Office Manual for this request, indicating your
plan of action.
Thanking
You,
Yours
Sincerely,
(M.V.Ruparelia)
No comments:
Post a Comment