Senior Citizens National
Protest Day-16-8-13 (SCNPD).
``Right Every
Wrong`` Satyamev Jayte.
M.V.Ruparelia, A503
Rashmi Utsav, Near Jangid Estate & Vijay Park, Mira Road (East) Dist.
Thane. 401107. M. 09821732855. E/Mail: mvrup@yahoo.co.in
To
August
10th,2013.
Shri P. Chidambaram, Honourable Finance Minister of India
North Block, New Delhi-110101.
Mananivar
Chidambaramji,
Sub:
Step-motherly and inhuman treatment to Elders of the Country by Ministry of
Finance.
1.
As you may be aware, United
Nations Economic & Social Commission for Asia Specific (ESCAP), Bangkok is
watching the action taken by Government for welfare of senior citizens and has
requested all member countries to advise them the progress report for 19 Questionnaire in terms of The
Economic and Social Council resolution 2010/14 for their Madrid
International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA REVIEW), 2011. Our progress is
very poor due to very meager funds being provided by Finance Ministry for
Elders of the Country, though clearly directed in para 93 of National Policy,
99, notified with the approval of Cabinet on 13-2-99. It was provided in its
Mandate, Policy Statement & Financial Security (Paras 12 to 31) 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. Ministry of Finance is the
apex authority of Government of India at the national level to provide funds, formulate
policies, sponsor and support programmes of the Government. It is regretted
that Finance Ministry has not taken any steps sincerely to act as per these
provisions in Mandate, Policy Statement and on many other provisions of the
Policy, 99 pertaining to them even after 14 full years. We have been
representing to you and your predecessor 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 many of the provisions of various
policies declared and announced by the Government. We observe that Elders of the Country are repeatedly ignored
by Finance Ministry giving them Step-motherly
and inhuman treatment and as such 12 crore
Senior Citizens have united and decided to observe again 16-8-13 as National
Protest Day. Decision No. 2701/IC(A)/2008 on 27-6-08 from Chief
Information Commissioner, Delhi reads as
under:- ``The Respondents has adopted a National Policy on Older Persons, which
has not been effectively implemented. The Senior Citizens are, therefore,
deprived of the benefits assured to them. The Respondent is, therefore,
directed to clearly outline the Plan of Action and indicate its outcome for the
larger benefits of the Society.`` We shall request you to get action taken and
Action Plans as per para 93 got prepared for provisions in paras 1 to 31,36, 63
and 91 at an early date.
2.
Para 29 of the Policy, 99 lays down that the
Elder contributors should feel assured that the payments at the end of
stipulated period are attractive enough to take care of the likely erosion in
purchasing power due to erosion. As per Reserve Bank Master Circular, Banks are permitted to formulate fixed
deposit schemes for senior citizens, offering higher & fixed rates of
interest. Looking to the present inflation giving 90% Dearness Allowance to
Central Government employees, extra rate of interest to your Elders should be
more than 10-15% than given to other citizens. However looking to the financial
restraints and crisis being felt by Government for Elders, at least 5% extra
should be paid with immediate effect with provision to increase every 6 months.
Our Elders have fought for
Independence and have played very important role in bringing present financial
prosperity to the Country and deserve special treatment for their wellbeing. We would like to bring to your notice that
recently, State Bank of India has reduced the rate of interest to Elders of the
Country to ridiculous extra ¼% on the basis of discussion for item 26 of Minutes of Meeting held by you on 15-11-12 in
which it was advised that the additional interest for senior citizens may be
reasonable but not excessive. It is deplorable to know that Finance Ministry
considers ½% extra rate to the Elders of the Country as excessive and discusses
this meager extra rate to Elders as excessive in meeting with Banks!! Most of the Elders retired before 1996
have meager savings due to meager settlement dues and are dependent on earnings
from interest on such meager savings. We would
therefore request you to go through various provisions of National Policy, 99
and get higher rate of interest fixed for Elders of the Country and advise
Reserve Bank and all Banks and Public Sector Undertakings under you to follow all
the provisions sincerely. It is the responsibility of Ministry of Finance to
get provisions of Policy, 99 implemented by all subordinate Public Sector
Undertakings under them in terms of para 93 of Policy. You will agree that ½ % extra rate to
Your Elders is nothing but a mockery of Elders and cutting it further to ¼% is
very insulting and inhuman. We shall be
thankful, if incorrect action of State Bank of India is got rectified
immediately.We would also request you to earmark 10% or some % of Government`s
income for welfare of Elders of the Country.
3.
Present lot of Senior Citizens belonging to
Middle & Higher Middle Class has been paying Income Tax for last30-70
years, right from their recruitment at age of 20-25. They have worked hard for
upliftment of the Country and bringing it to the level of Top Economy of the
World and have taken active part in Independence Struggle also. Senior Citizens
do not enjoy fully Public Goods and Services provided by Government for
citizens (Para 4.1 of Discussion Paper of Direct Tax Code) due to immobility
and many other factors. Their ability to pay Tax (Para 3.2 of Discussion Paper)
gets reduced after retirement and from year to year due to less income and more
expenditure on health care. Their Net Worth (Para 3.4 of D.P.) also gets
reduced considerably. There are many other factors, which also require to be
considered and all Senior Citizens should be completely exempted from paying
Income Tax. Para 28 of Policy lays down that taxation policies will reflect
sensitivity to financial problems of older persons, which accelerate due to
very high costs of medical & nursing care, transportation & support
services needed etc. Kindly, look in to all such declared and notified
provisions and exempt your Elders from burden of taxation or exemption limit be
increased to 5 lakhs for below 80 & 10 lakhs for above 80. At least Pension should be exempted
completely.
4.
For various purposes to provide relief to senior
citizens of the Country, Finance Ministry was to create a Welfare Fund as per
provisions in para 63 of Policy,99 but this has not been done, resulting in
non-implementation of many provisions of Policy, 99 for last 14 years, which
has resulted in Abuse of Elders of the Country. It is high time that this
Welfare Fund is created and if sufficient funds are not available for Elders of
the Country, this may be done by utilizing huge
amount of unclaimed balances with all Banks. As per Media Reports, Rs1739 crore
rupees are lying unclaimed with Banks. These balances, generally, are of older
persons, who have expired or forgotten due to memory loss. 2% CSR funds of each
Bank or certain % of such funds can also be transferred to this Welfare Fund,
keeping in view non-implementation of the declared and notified Policy of
Government.
5. According to para 36 of
NPOP, 99, Health Insurance was to be given high priority to cater to the needs
of different income segments but no decision is taken by Finance Ministry even
after obtaining suggestions from Sastry Committee and receiving final
recommendations thereon from Government Agency of IRDA in 2009 to give subsidy
of Rs 2000 or so per policy. This requires your personal intervention.
6.
As per para 25 of Policy, 99, BPL Senior
Citizens were to be provided with Old Age Pension as succor and rates of
monthly pension were to be revised at intervals so that inflation does not
deflate its real purchasing power. According to Prime
Minister`s Speech on 19-11-07 for
launching IGNOAP for providing a Social Safety Net for poor & vulnerable
and to universalize coverage to all those who are old, poor and needy, this Old
Age Pension was to be paid to all citizens above 65 (now 60) years and living
below poverty line. There are no orders from PM to restrict this pension to
only those belonging to BPL Family. Amount of Rs 300 now proposed is a mockery
of Elders of the Country. Financial Constrains are for only helpless,
ailing BPL Elders of a Highly Advanced & Financially Prosperous Country, which
boasts in the ENTIRE WORLD for having RESPECT for their ELDERS!!
Government spends Rs 20000 p.a. (more than Rs 1600 p.m.) for one Under
Trial Prisoner and much more for convicts. Even alcoholic & drug addicts
are granted Rs 900 p.m. by same Govt for food during their remaining in
Anti-addict Centres! Kindly, look in to this mockery of Elders and increase the
amount to Rs 2000 p.m., as demanded by Pension Parishad. Para 2.8.3 of Report of XII Five Year Plan (2012-17)
Working Group on ``Social Welfare``(October, 2011) recommended to provide insurance to the extent of Rs 1
lakh in place of existing Rs 30000 for Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna. This is required to be implemented early.
Moreover, present limit of 5 members in a
family does not give benefit to senior citizens. RSBY is required to be
modified on lines of Schemes being implemented by Maharashtra, Andhra &
Tamilnadu States.Cases of 36 lakh senior citizens retired from
private & public sector industries under EPF/EPS 95and similar schemes
getting less than Rs 500 as monthly pension are also required to be considered
sympathetically, keeping in view present inflationary position of market. The
contribution of employers has to be increased from 1.16 to 8.33 for future
retirees.
7.
Finance Ministry
has to extend their support for the poor segment, both in urban and rural areas
for social security, health care, shelter, welfare and protection against abuse
and exploitation so that they can improve their quality of lives. For achieving
this, there is an immediate need for setting up a separate Ministry for Senior
Citizens at Central and State Level with a full time Secretary and other
officers exclusively for welfare of Elders of the Country to implement promptly
and sincerely various policies already decided and declared by the Government.
Proper provision of funds for this purpose is required to be made by Finance
Ministry to achieve this long felt necessity. National/State Commissions for
Senior Citizens for ensuring no violations of Rights Of Senior Citizens are
also necessary.
With your SINCERE personality & tact of handling all
situations, we are sure that you will do needful quickly, sincerely and take
suitable action to improve the last spell of life of 12 crore Elders of the Country.
We shall be obliged, if action
taken is advised in terms of para 66 & 67 of Central Secretariat
Manual and DOPT repeated instructions, last being 55/20/2012-P&PW© dt
18-2-13, indicating your plan of action.
Thanking You,
Yours Sincerely,
(M.V.Ruparelia)
