M.V.Ruparelia, Senior Citizen of 81, Chief Patron, All
India Senior Citizens Confederation (AISCCON) & RTI Activist.A503 Rashmi
Utsav, Near Jangid Estate & Vijay Park, Mira Road (East) Dist. Thane.
401107. M. 09821732855. E/Mail: mvrup@yahoo.co.in
To
Date: 22-6-14.
Shri G G Alhatji,
Up-Sachiv (Coordination), Ministry of Social Justice & Vishesh Sahaya, Government of
Maharashtra, Mantralaya, Mumbai-400032.
Sub: Meeting with
all secretaries of State Government on 23-6-14 for State Policy for Senior
Citizens.
Ref: Your letter
no. 2014/pra kra 271/sa ma su dt 19-6-14 to all secretaries etc and copy to me
received by E/Mail dt 21-6-14.
I am very much
thankful for inviting me for this Meeting. I wish Great Success to this Very
Important Meeting and hope that its outcome will be beneficial to our Social
Justice Ministry and 1.2 crore Senior Citizens of Maharashtra. While discussing
and deciding the implementation strategies of various provisions of State
Policy, we would request you to get the following actions not requiring funds
taken by concerned authorities immediately and bring to their notice the Policy
Statement of Government that each Public Authority has 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.
i)
As provided in State
Policy, get instructions issued to all doctors practicing privately to charge
concessional medical fees for older persons and also to Pathologists &
Chemists to give concessions.
ii)
Get instructions
issued/reiterated with targets to all Municipalities/Panchayats to provide Day
Care Centres, Physiotherapy Centres etc (16 schemes under IPOP for which
Central Nodal Ministry gives 90% grant) in each ward. When we contacted 3
Mumbai Municipal Corporations, they have stated that they do not have any
instructions from State Government!
iii)
Get instructions
issued to Municipalities/Panchayats for providing Nana Nani Parks, organizing
entertainment programmes, concessional rates for cinemas, reserving some seats
for elders etc.
iv)
Get instructions
issued to Corporate Houses to earmark 10% of their CSR funds for welfare of
elders.
v)
Get `` Senior Citizens
Section ``established within a month.
vi)
Get instructions
issued to exclusively reserve some Small Scale Industries for elders.
vii)
Get ``Democracy Day``
declared for hearing representations/complaints of elders.
viii)
Get State Council,
District Coordination cum monitoring Committees for Senior Citizens and
Volunteers Committees at each Police Station as statutorily laid down in Rules,
2010 established within a month and provide negotiating machinery at each
level, ensuring dissemination of information to grassroots level, as provided
in Rule 19 (2) (iv), 2010 of Maintenance Rules.
ix)
Get proper
instructions issued for celebration of International Day on 1st
October to all subordinate offices and Municipalities with Vayoshreshtha Awards
at ward level to State level etc for one week as per last instructions.
x)
Get
Cooperation of all Newspapers, private TV Channels and Bollywood etc: This is absolutely necessary for creative use of
entire Media for highlighting continuously the changing situations of Elders,
active ageing, intergeneration bonds etc
The main issue to be decided in the meeting is about
definition of Senior Citizen in Maharashtra for which many representations have
been made. Government of India has defined a citizen of 60 and above as Senior
Citizen. Maintenance & Welfare of Parents & Senior Citizens, 2007 has
also statutorily laid down the same age. Standing Committee of Lok Sabha
(2013-14) in its 39 th Report has also desired the same. It is requested that
our State Government also adhere to laws and Policies framed by Government of
India.
With Blessings & Best Wishes,
Yours Sincerely,
(M.V.Ruparelia)
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