Senior Citizens Council of Delhi in
association with Helpage India and Confederation of Senior Citizens
Associations of Delhi (an umbrella body of 11 lakhs Senior Citizens) organized
2nd Annual Conference on Rights and Entitlement of Older Persons, Promotion of
Advantage Card by Helpage India and Cultural/Recreational Program for senior
citizens on 02nd May 2012 at Azad Bhawan Auditorium, New Delhi in
which more than 550 Senior Citizens participated after coming from different
parts of Delhi. Chief guest was Smt. Shiela Dixit, Chief Minister of Delhi,
Guests of honour were Dr. A.K. Jagessur, Mauritius High Commissioner, Dr.
Suresh K Goel, Director General, ICCR and Shri Mathew Cherion, CEO, Helpage
India.
While welcoming Chief Guest and other guests,
Chairperson of the Confederation, J.R. Gupta congratulated Chief Minister of Delhi
for taking a lead over rest of the country by paying highest oldage monthly
pension of Rs.1,500.00 at the age of 70 and above, by formulating its own State
Policy for senior citizens of Delhi in the year 2006 and also implementation of
the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2008 by
installing 9 Tribunal Courts w.e.f. 01st October 2009 and grant of
concessional DTC bus passes to senior citizens at the rate of Rs.50.00 and
Rs.150.00 per month for non AC and AC buses respectively w.e.f. 01st
October 2011. On this occasion, Shri J.R. Gupta also brought to the notice of
Chief Minister of Delhi that Senior Citizens Council of Delhi in association
with Confederation of Senior Citizens Associations of Delhi have solved a no.
of cases in connection with protection of lonely senior citizens from
abuses/humiliations at the hands of their own children and others.
Shri J.R. Gupta also presented a charter of
demands to Chief Minister of Delhi which includes issue of Senior Citizen cards
by Delhi Govt. like Maharashtra Govt. and Andhra Govt., State Commission for
Senior Citizens, recreational centres at each and every Municipal ward, special
health security to 80 plus Senior Citizen, nomination of Confederation in State
Council for Senior Citizens. Enhanced monthly old age pension of Rs.1,500 needs
to be extended for Senior Citizens between the age of 60 and 69 years, Medical
reimbursement of Rs.1,000 per month to BPL Senior Citizens in addition to
Monthly Old Age Pension like Goa government, inclusion of Social Welfare
department in Citizen's Charter, free travelling in DTC buses by Senior
Citizens at the age of 65 and above like Union Territory of Chandigarh,
increase of one time recreation grant from Rs.75,000.00 to Rs.1,00,000.00 and
monthly grant from Rs.20,000.00 to Rs.30,000.00 for organizing day to day
activities and inclusion of physical/emotional torture abuse cases in the
Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007.
Shri J.R. Gupta also brought to the notice of
Chief Guest pilgrimage journey scheme recently introduced by Madhya Pradesh
Govt. for their Senior Citizens at the age of 65 and above by which they have
been allowed to visit religious places like Badrinath, Kedarnath, Jagannathpuri,
Dwarka, Amarnath, Vaishno Devi, Kashi, Tirupati, Shirdi, Gaya, Rameshwaram,
Ajmer Sharif, Amritsar and Sammadh Shikhar. Each Senior Citizen has been
allowed to take one attendant with him and the amount of Pilgrimage journey
would be reimbursed by the Dept. of Religious Trusts of MP Govt. Shri Gupta
requested Chief Minister to announce this scheme in Delhi also.
Smt. Shiela Dixit appreciated a number of
initiatives taken by the Confederation/Council headed by Shri JR Gupta for the
cause and care of elderly including protecting lonely Senior Citizens from
abuses/humiliations at the hands of their own children and others. Smt. Sheila
Dixit assured that their demands would be considered by Delhi Govt. by inviting
a delegation of Confederation members within a period of 10-12 days.
Dr.A.K. Jagessur, Mauritius High Commissioner
thanked Shri JR Gupta, Chairperson of the Confederation and highlighted the
number of schemes being launched to Senior Citizens by Mauritius Govt. He
further mentioned that their is already a MOU between both the Council at Delhi
and Mauritius for exchange of views of groups of elderly of both the countries
on reciprocal basis.
Shri Mathew Cherion, CEO, Helpage India
launched Advantage Card for senior citizens and appreciated working of Council/Confederation
and Helpage India for the cause and care of elderly jointly.
Dr. Suresh K. Goel, Director General, ICCR
inaugurated Kavi Samelan and placed on record that Senior Citizens Council of
Delhi has been associated with the ICCR for the last so many years for
promoting art and culture among Senior Citizens. Eminent poets Sarv Shri Rajesh
Chetan, Dinesh Raghuvanshi and Suraj Pal recited so many poems which were
appreciated by all present. On this occassion, eminent singer and TV artists
Mrs. Anima Sinha recited bhajans which were also appreciated by all present.
Shri Balbir Singh Yadav, Secretary General extended vote of thanks to all present. Refreshment packets were also distributed to all present.
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