Appeal
under Section 19(1) of The Right To Information Act, 2005.
(Senior Citizen Priority Case as per CIC`s Circular)
To Shri
Chandra Prakash, Dy. Secretary & The
Appellate Authority, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, Shastri Bhawan, C wing,
New Delhi 110001.
1) Name of the
Applicant: M.V. Ruparelia,
Senior Citizen aged 80.
2) Address: A 503 Rashmi
Utsav, Near Jangid Estate & Vijay Park , Mira Road (East) Dist. Thane.
401107.
M.
9821732855. E/Mail: mvrup@yahoo.co.in
3) Particulars of C. P.I.O. : Shri Ashok Acharya, Under Secretary, Ministry
of Culture, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi.
4) Date of receipt of the
order appealed against : No .27-237/2013-CDN
dt 9-12-13 received on 13-12-13 returning representation dt 7-09-13 and
Application dt 7-10-13 to Ministry of Home Affairs (Copy of Application enclosed).
5) Last date of filing
appeal: 20-1--14.
6) Grounds of
appeal: Application is for creating Respect for Elders in families, society and
government as per our Culture of Matru Devo Bhav etc. 12 crore Elders of the
Country are neglected day in and day out by Families, Society and Government,
as will be clear from Help Age India`s Report about Abuse of Elders in India.
Each Government department including Ministry of Culture has to read, consider and act on Mandate &
Policy Statement of National Policy, 99, which is for all departments (copy
enclosed for ready reference) and take action 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 necessary to frame Action Plans
for each aspect of all policies declared by Government for Elders, as laid down
in para 93 of NPOP, 99. Legal Mandate of Ministry of Culture reads as under:-
"Any section of the citizens residing in the territory
of India or any part thereof having a distinct language, script or culture of
its own shall have the right to conserve the same" - Article 29 of the
Constitution
"It
shall be the duty of every citizen of India to value and preserve the rich
heritage of our composite culture" - Article 51 A(F) of the Constitution.
The mission of the department is to preserve, promote and
disseminate all forms of culture. Item no.37 of First Schedule: Observance of
Centenaries & anniversaries of important Events.
Government of India had declared National Policy for
Older Persons, 99 with approval of Cabinet. 15 years have passed. Most of the
provisions are not implemented by many of the Ministries inspite of repeated
representations. We have been bringing this deplorable position to President &
Prime Minister for last several years, who just forwarded to Ministry of Social
Justice, which cannot force other Ministries to act! This time our
representation for 10 long pending important demands including creating proper
culture of respect by celebrating International Day in grand way was sent to
Ministry of Home affairs, which has forwarded to you for needful. Many provisions
in addition to Mandate & Policy pertain to your Ministry also like
promoting intergenerational integrity (Para 57); integrate tradition with
contemporary needs & transmit more effectively socio-cultural heritage to
grand children (Para 79); Family System to be strengthened (Paras 80 & 81).
Ministry of Culture has to ensure that Elders of the Country are not ignored
and marginalized. Proper & prompt action is to be taken to ensure that they
are respected by all.
We know that RTI is
not for solving the grievance, but as practice followed by almost all Public
Authorities is not to take any initiative for welfare of elders nor to reply
any representations in this respect and
as there is no way to establish contact with any authority, we resort to RTI,
thinking that main aim of RTI Act is to streamline the working of the Public
Authority and make it accountable to the governed!! According to Allocation of Business
Rules of Government of India, though Ministry of Social Justice is allotted the
work of welfare of senior citizens as a Nodal Ministry, overall management and monitoring etc.
of the sectoral programmes in respect of Senior Citizens is the responsibility
of the concerned Central Ministries, State Governments and Union territory Administrations. Ministry of Social Justice with 5 officers-1 Joint
Secretary, 1 Dy Sec,1 U.S and 2 Section Officer only for welfare of 12 crore Elders
cannot do work of your Ministry in this
respect and go on chasing your Ministry and
your subordinate offices in States/UTs for provisions pertaining to your
Ministry. As per AOB, it is clearly for your Ministry to prepare proper plans
and issue necessary directives to your Officers, Staff and all Subordinate
Offices including Municipalities also and get all provisions pertaining to your
Ministry for National Policy, 99; Integrated Programmes for Older Persons
(IPOP) under para 47 of NPOP, 99; Maintenance & Welfare of Parents &
Senior Citizens Act, 2007 and National Programme of Health Care of Elders by
Health Ministry to the extent pertaining to your Ministry and all subordinate
offices by preparing Five Year & Annual Action Plan with targets. Kindly
give information on item i); ii) & iv) of application and item 6 of
Memorandum dt 22-8-13 to President (Copy enclosed).
7) Particulars of
Information: :
Information in respect Of Celebrating World Elder Day on 1st October
every year in Our Country with enthusiasm etc by States and creating respect
for Elders in the Country.
8) Reply may be given by E/Mail on
mvrup@yahoo.co.in or Post.
(M.V.Ruparelia)
Mira Road 25 -12-13.
Signature
of the Applicant
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