Senior citizens protest state apathy at Azad Maidan

On Monday, Azad Maidan witnessed about two thousand senior citizens, representing twenty senior citizens’ organisations, protesting against the non-implementation of the ‘National Policy On Older Persons’, which they said has aggravated the problems of senior citizens across the country.

This protest was a part of an all-India ‘Senior Citizens National Protest Day’. The policy was formed in 1999 as a guide for addressing the problems of senior citizens, but has not been implemented widely.

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, provision of old-age pension to eligible persons, 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, and declaring a 60 year age limit for all schemes concerning senior citizens.

After the protests, a delegation of four senior citizens met minister of state for social justice Sachin Ahir at the Mantralaya. “Ahir agreed, in principle, with most of our demands,” said SP Kinjawdekar, president, All India Senior Citizens’ Confederation. Kinjawdekar added that Ahir assured them of the Act’s implementation within 3 months of the law department’s recommendations.