Senior Citizens National
Protest Day-16-8-13 (SCNPD).
``Right Every
Wrong`` Satyamev Jayte.
M.V.Ruparelia, A 503 Rashmi Utsav,
Near Jangid Estate & Vijay Park, Mira Road (East), Dist. Thane-Maharashtra-401107.E/Mail:
mvrup@yahoo.co.in
M: 09821732855.
MEMRANDUM
TO OUR BELOVED
CHIEF MINISTER Shri Prithviraj Chavan
BY THE SENIOR
CITIZENS OF Maharashtra.
Date: 4th
August, 2013.
To,
Honorable Shri Prithviraj Chavan
Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mantralaya, Mumbai: 400032.
Sub:
Non-implementation by Maharashtra of Various Policies notified by
the Government of India and State Government for Senior Citizens.
Ref:
i) Our more than 100 Representations, Reminders and E/Mails in last 3 years.
ii)
Strictures passed by State Information Commissioner, Maharashtra in his
Speaking Orders in Appeals no.1510/2012/02 dt 9-11-12; Appeal no. 6852/02 dt
11-7-11 and Appeal no. 5949/02 dt27-8-10.
1.
As you may be aware, Government of India has notified
National Policy for Older Persons, 99 with the approval of Cabinet on 13-2-99.
It was provided in its Mandate & Policy Statement to
take effective steps to improve the quality of life of all Elders, strengthen
their legitimate place in society and help them to live their last spell of
life with purpose, dignity and peace. Para 18 of
the Policy provides that age 60+ is a phase, when individual should have
chances and opportunities to lead an active, creative, productive and
satisfying life. It is unfortunate and deploring situation that Most
Progressive State of Maharashtra has not yet adopted and notified State Policy
till date. Expectations of your 1.2 crore Elders promised by Government in
Policy, 99 are not met with, which is considered as Elder Abuse by Maharashtra
Government as per definition of INPEA. State government is the
apex authority of Government of India at the state level to formulate policies,
sponsor and support programmes of the Government. It is regretted that not a
single Ministry/Department of Maharashtra State has sincerely taken any steps
to act as per these provisions in Mandate & Policy Statement and on other
provisions of the Policy, 99 even after 14 full years. We have been
representing to you, concerned Ministers by name for our various demands
through Memorandum issued on first Protest day of 16-8-10, second Solidarity
Day on 16-8-11 and third Solidarity Day on 16-8-12. We have also been
requesting you well in advance of preparation of Budgets to provide funds for
our demands but no sincere efforts are made to implement various provisions of
various policies announced by the Government. We observe that Elders of the State are repeatedly ignored by
State & Local Bodies of Maharashtra and
as such 1.2 crore Senior Citizens have united and decided to observe again
16-8-13 as State Protest Day. We have
full faith in your leadership and appreciate your actions for giving Rajiv
Gandhi Jeevandayee Arogya Yojna (RGJAY) & appointing Tribunals under
Rules framed on 23-6-10 on Maintenance & Welfare of Parents & Senior
Citizens Act, 2007.We observe that you are very
sincere and straightforward and having wish to follow the Vision
& Mission to facilitate pursuit of
excellence in governance for the benefit of all citizens and to foster
excellence in governance and pursuit of administrative reforms through
improvements in government structures and processes; Promoting citizen-centric
governance with emphasis on grievance redressal etc. We, therefore, request you to talk to each of your Minister and Secretaries
and to write personal D.O. letter to
personally look in to all provisions of this Policy, 99, adopt State Policy and
take immediate action on each provision
of this 14 year old Policy by preparing Five Year and Annual Action Plans for
their areas of function.
i)
We
fail to understand why this step motherly attitude by your Ministers and
Secretaries is adopted only towards 1.2 crore Elders (10% of total
population, 13% of electorate and 21% of effective voters). In addition to not accepting the Policy,
your officers refuse to take action on various directives/orders issued by
Nodal Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment even after our pointing out
repeatedly. If there is some difficulty in accepting one or some provisions of
NPOP, 99 by State, action on acceptable provisions can be taken for benefits of
your Elders. Not issuing instructions for acceptable provisions to subordinate
offices is not a Fair Policy of the State. Even in absence of
notification of State Policy, the following actions for which separate
instructions are given by Nodal Ministry and which State is otherwise also
require to take action can be taken by the State Government for welfare of
their Elders, which is not being done:-
i)
Negotiating Machinery: One of the main requirement of NPOP,
99 and democracy is wide dissemination
of information to Senior Citizens and their Organizations, so that they can function as watchdog,
energize continuing action, mobilize public opinion and generate pressure for
implementation of Policy, as laid down in para 91. Para 72 lays down
that there will be continuous dialogue and communications with NGOs on ageing
issues and on services to be provided. Para 90 provides that National Policy
will be widely disseminated. Negotiation & Dissemination is completely
neglected by the State. At
present, there is no Negotiating Machinery in the State for negotiations with
1.2 crore Senior Citizens of Maharashtra. State Council is not established
inspite of D.O. letters from Nodal Minister. State Council & District
Councils laid down in Rules 21 & 22 framed by State under Maintenance &
Welfare Act, 2007 are also not established even after notifying Rules on 23-6-10.
Arrangements may please be made to obtain details of all Registered
Associations/Organizations working for senior Citizens and issue instructions
to all Departments to hold regular consultations with local Associations of
Senior Citizens and endorse copy of all circulars/instructions affecting elders
to Federations/State level Organizations. Similar list should be available with
each Panchayat/ Municipality & each Ward Officer for their jurisdiction.
State & Local Bodies should call for Meetings, Seminars etc for inter
action with elders periodically.
ii)
Integrated Programmes for
Older Persons (IPOP)-
Revised Scheme effective from 1-4-2008: Nodal Ministry has advised that as
against National Allocation to
Maharashtra for this purpose in year 2008-09 of Rs 150 lakhs, only Rs 49.92 and
against NA for 2009-10 of Rs 75 lakhs, only Rs 47.07 were released as per State
Demand. Para 6 of the Revised Scheme has
made Panchayati Raj Institutions & Local Bodies as main implementing
Agencies. No instructions have been issued to these agencies by concerned
Ministries. Kindly make out a time bound programme for each Panchayat &
Municipal Units to provide these 16 Welfare Schemes in each ward within a year
as 90% of recurring & major part of non-recurring expenditure will be borne
by Ministry of Social Justice, Delhi. Wide & repeated Publicity will make
lot of difference to the lives of Elders. Instructions may please be issued to
District Magistrates (Rule 19) for giving wide and regular publicity of the Act
and welfare programmes for Elders by State and Central governments, sensitize
officers for welfare of elders; to Police (Para 20) to gather full and up to
date lists of all senior citizens in each police station, nominate volunteers`
committees and regular visits of those staying alone; set State Council and
District Committees (Para 21-22).
ii)
Provide Avenues of Utilization of Elders: Even
after 14 years of formation of the Policy for overall upliftment of Senior
Citizens in paras 20, 21, 31, 55, 78, 79 etc, nothing is done for their proper
utilization by State. Many senior citizens feel lonely and require some avenues
of passing their time usefully. State should provide proper education and
avenues of utilization of Elders, which will play a
significant and remedial role in balancing the socio-economic fabric of the State. 1.2
Crore Elders of the State are huge untapped resource for which facilities are
to be made available to use their potentiality as per their choice.
iii)
Health Care: Policy
envisages Health Care for all, free to lower income & subsidized to higher
income groups. Rajeev Gandhi Jeevandayee Arogya Yojna may please be extended to
Senior Citizens having more than one lakh income by prescribing subsidized
premium.
iv)
Celebrating International Day of Older Persons (IDOP): It
is observed that this Day is neither observed by State at various levels nor by
Panchayati Raj & Municipal Bodies in Maharashtra inspite of repeated
instructions from Nodal Ministry every year. Instructions for celebrating
``World Awareness Day of Abuse of Older Persons`` on 15th June are
also not issued. These celebrations will create proper atmosphere of Respect
for Elders in the Society.
v)
Vayoshestha Sanmans: Nodal Ministry has given a list of 10 Sanmans
given by them every year, which they give in celebration of IDOP. Our State
should also give similar Sanmans at State/District/Panchayat-Municipal levels.
vi)
Involve Panchayati Raj Institutions & Municipalities For Welfare of
Senior Citizens: Panchayati Raj Institutions and
Local Bodies are to be encouraged to initiate & participate in all schemes
of Welfare of Elders, address local level issues & needs of the ageing
population and implement programmes for them. They will provide Forums for
discussing concerns of Older Persons & Activities that need to be taken.
Such Forums will be encouraged at Panchayat, Municipal, Block & District
level. They will have adequate representation of older women. Local Bodies will
mobilize the talents & skills of older persons & draw up plans for
utilizing these at local level. Kindly issue necessary instructions to all
Local Bodies and monitor the progress, as this will lead to real welfare of
Elders of Maharashtra. Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Delhi has reiterated these
instructions recently under their letter no. F.No. M.11011/06/2011-P&C(AR)
dt 30-10-12.
vii)
Instructions to our Media, Trusts, Charitable Hospitals/State &
Municipal Hospitals, NGOs , Civic Authorities etc: Kindly issue
necessary instructions to all Stake Holders in Maharashtra for looking after
the welfare of Elders, as laid down in Mandate & Policy Statement and
various other provisions of Policy, 99 and Maintenance Act, 2007 so that they
start doing their work on provisions pertaining to them, which may lead to our
Elders leading dignified life during their last spell of life.
viii)
Annual Report of work done in the State for its Elders: At present any good work done for Elders by State
is not known to Citizens. An annual report for all work done for Elders in the
State should be prepared and brought out in Media on every International Day
for Older Persons. This will not only monitor various actions by all
authorities but boost morale of Elders of Maharashtra.
ix)
Create
respect for Elders in the Society & Government at every level: It is observed that Elders of the State
are not treated well in Society, as were being treated earlier-Matru Devo
Bhav-Pitru Devo Bhav. Recent Help Age Report on Elder Abuse indicates this.
They are treated as ``Spent Force`` by State Government, which is apparent in
non adoption of the Policy for 14 years. Para 15 of Policy, 99 states that
State will strengthen the legitimate place of Elders in the Society. Para 18
states that Elders 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 Publicity Department.
Various provisions of Maintenance & Welfare of Parents & Senior
Citizens Act, 2007 & Rules, 2010 about looking after Elders by Children,
providing meeting places and safety by Police etc also need highlighting &
propaganda. Cooperation of all Newspapers, private TV Channels and Bollywood
etc is absolutely necessary for creative use of entire Media for highlighting
continuously the changing situations of Elders, active ageing, intergeneration
bonds etc. 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 encouraged/instructed by State.
2.
No action
is taken on various provisions of Maintenance & Welfare of Parents &
Senior Citizens Rules notified in Gazette no. 86 dt 23-6-10, though more than 3
years are over. Please, get immediate action taken on the following
provisions:-
i)
Please,
give Wide Publication to Tribunals, giving copies to various Associations &
NGOs.
ii)
Take
action to provide Old Age Home in each District.(Rule 18)
iii)
Issue
Instructions to all Police Stations for protection of Life & Property,
visiting lonely Senior Citizens, collecting data of all Sr Citizens in area of
each Police Station, Police Help Line for each Police Station etc. (Rule 20)
iv)
Wide
Publicity of the Act, Central/State/Municipality Programmes for Welfare of
Senior Citizens by District Magistrates (Rule 19)
v)
Provide
State Council & District Committees
(Rule 21 & 22).
3.
Medical Treatment in Municipal Hospitals in Mumbai: As per State GR no. 2006/navi-20 dt 12-12-06,
free treatment is to be given to all Senior Citizens in all Municipal
Hospitals. All Hospitals, except 3 major Hospitals of Nair, KEM & Sion have
given in writing that they are giving free treatment to all Senior Citizens.
These 3 major Hospitals are defying the State Orders for last 7 years and do
not give free treatment to Senior Citizens. You may please take up with
concerned defaulters and get this done very early.
4.
State Web
Site is very complicated and as such there is a necessity of separate Web Site
for Senior Citizens of Maharashtra with Grievance Solving Machinery. This may
kindly be done.
Thanking You,
Yours Sincerely
(M.V.Ruparelia)
Copy
forwarded to
1.
Shri R.R.Patil,
Minister of Home Affairs, Mantralaya, Mumbai-400032.
2.
Shri
Shivaji Rao Moghe, Minister of Social
Justice, Mantralaya, Mumbai-400032.
3.
Shri
Sunil Tatkare, Minister of Finance, Mantralaya, Mumbai-400032.
4.
Shri
Sachin Mohan Ahir, State Minister of Social Justice, Mantralaya, Mumbai-400032.
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