Senior Citizens Protest For Their Rights
Under the aegis of Federation of Senior Citizen Forums of Karnataka over 500 senior citizens took part in protest on August 16th 2010 in Cubbon Park. This was a part of a nationwide protest, organized by the Joint Action Committee of Senior Citizens demanding better implementation of pension policies and other government schemes meant for Senior citizens.
This protest was a part of an all-India ‘Senior Citizens National Protest Day’ protesting against the non-implementation of the ‘National Policy On Older Persons’. Other major demands of the senior citizens included a provision of health insurance for all senior citizens without any age-related or pre-existing health condition restrictions. They also demand the immediate implementation of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act.
The protest was aimed at seeking the following
- Implementation National Policy of Older Persons, 1999 (NPOP).
- Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 (MPWPS)
- Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAP)
- provision of health insurance for all senior citizens without any age-related or pre-existing health condition restrictions
- 50% concession for railway and state bus fares for all senior citizens
- an exclusive ministry and national commission for older persons at the central level
According to source, 66% of seniors today cannot afford two square meals a day and out of around 113 crores population, senior citizens number more than 10 crore (nearly 8.85%) and steadily growing. The protest marked the lack of effective implementation of the National Policy of Older Persons, 1999 (NPOP) and Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act.
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