To
Mumbai. Date 17-10-13.
The Registrar
General,
Bombay High
Court, Fort, Mumbai-400032.
Respected Hon
Chief Justice Of Maharashtra,
Sub: Indifferent
Attitude & Highhandedness of Government of Maharashtra towards Elders of
Maharashtra.
Ref: Approval by
Cabinet to State Policy for Senior Citizens on Monday, 30-9-13.
I am a Senior Citizen of 80 working for welfare of Senior Citizens. According to National Policy of Older
Persons, 99 approved by Central Cabinet, all Citizens of India of 60(+) are
notified as Senior Citizens. Maharashtra Government in their State Policy has
declared that in Maharashtra, citizens above 65 years only will be treated as
Senior Citizens. This has deprived 35% of 1.2 crore Senior Citizens of
Maharashtra from various concessions & facilities, they were getting till
30-9-13 without giving them opportunity to represent or heard. Identity cards
were issued by State for all citizens above 60 and all citizens of 60(+) were
declared senior citizens in Part 1 of State Policy. As this 35% are not senior
citizens now, Rules notified by State on 23-6-10 for Maintenance & Welfare
of Parents & Senior Citizens Act, 2007 will not apply to them and they will
be deprived of all facilities like security of life & property, old age
homes etc. All protests through media & letters by individuals &
associations will not bring any result, as declaration of State Policy itself
has taken 14 years inspite of hundreds of repeated representations by all
organization of Senior Citizens of Maharashtra. I enclose one News item of
Times of India of 1-10-13 to give complete idea of grave situation. State can
restrict the concessions to 65 (+) for any or all facilities but can not change
the definition of Senior Citizen of any Indian Citizen abruptly and deprive
them from provisions of Act, 2007 & Rules framed by them.
1.2 crore senior
citizens will be highly obliged, if Hon. Court takes cognizance of this important issue and direct the State to
keep the definition unchanged.
Thanking You,
Yours Sincerely,
(M.V.Ruparelia)
M.V.Ruparelia, Chief
Patron, All India Senior Citizens Confederation (AISCCON).
A 503 Rashmi
Utsav, Near Jangid Estate & Vijay Park, Mira Road (E). 401 107.
M. 9821732855. E/Mail: mvrup@yahoo.co.in
To Mumbai.
Date 17-10-13.
Honorable Shri Prithviraj
Chavan
Chief Minister of Maharashtra,
Mantralaya, Mumbai: 400032.
Sub: State Policy for Senior
Citizens declared on Monday, 30-9-13.
It is observed from Press
Reports that State has defined Senior Citizen in Maharashtra as an individual
over the age of 65. According to National Policy of
Older Persons, 99 approved by Central Cabinet, all Citizens of India of 60(+)
are notified as Senior Citizens. Part 1 of State Policy also defines Senior
Citizen as individual of 60(+) and State have issued Identity Cards to all with
60(+). This has deprived 35% of 1.2 crore Senior Citizens of Maharashtra from
various concessions & facilities, they were getting till 30-9-13 without
giving them opportunity to represent or heard.
State can restrict
concessions for any and all schemes to citizens of 60(+) to 65 but cannot
change the definition of senior citizen, which is 60(+) for all Indian
Citizens. Many facilities like security of property & life, old age homes
etc under Maintenance Act, 2007 and various other facilities like separate Q,
Indira Gandhi National Pension of Rs 200 given by Central Government to BPL
senior citizens, Banks giving 1/2 % extra interest, free health care in
government hospitals to all senior citizens of 60(+) as per GR no.
MAG/2004/138/pra.ka.-20 arogya 3-mantralaya dt 21-7-04 & GR no. sankarna
2006/pra.ka. 118/2006/navi-20 dt 12-12-06, railway fares, use of Day Care Centres,
tourist concessions, preference in dealing with their
representations/grievances, preference in gas & telephone connections etc
due to withdrawal of Identity Cards as Senior Citizens.
As there is
unrest amongst senior citizens of Maharashtra, immediate action may kindly be
taken to restore the definition of senior citizen, sending copy of State Policy
by return.
Thanking You,
Yours Sincerely,
(M.V.Ruparelia)
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