Senior citizens neglected by Finance Minister

Old age comes with its share of problems. As a person grows older his regular source of income dries up. In such a scenario, government needs to lend a helping hand to the senior citizens. Most of the older persons in India have no social security.

CJ: Sailesh

Thu, Jul 09, 2009 15:17:34 IST

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Political News :

OLDER PEOPLE are especially vulnerable due to their physical frailty and lack of mobility. Old age comes with its share of problems. As a person grows older his regular source of income dries up. In such a scenario, the government needs to lend a helping hand to the senior citizens.

Most of the older persons in India have no social security, especially people living in rural areas and working in unorganised sector. While 30 per cent of them live without proper meals a day, an estimated 55 per cent of the older population consists of women, with no support whatsoever.

India's 90 million senior citizens wants the government to utilise their skills for mutual benefit, range from safety to pension and income security, raising tax exemption limit and subsidy to health benefits.

The Budget 2009 offered peanuts to senior citizens:

The Budget proposes to increase the personal income tax exemption limit of senior citizens by Rs 15,000 from Rs 2.25 lakh to Rs 2.40 lakh. Although the exemption limit has been raised, the net savings would amount only to about Rs 1,500 for senior citizens.
The government has cleared the air on the taxation process of the New Pension System, but still long way to go.

Wish List by senior citizens for Indian Finance Minister:

Total exemption of all taxes for people of 75 years and above.
IT exemption up to 25 per cent in personal income for people between 60 years to 74 years.
Comprehensive medical insurance for all above 60 years of age.
Minimum 25 per cent concession in hospital bills in all trust and government hospitals.
Tax benefits for organisation providing elder care and geriatric service
Tax benefits for children’s looking after elders.
Disability concession to person and family of person suffering from Dementia and Parkinson.
Low budget homes for elderly.
Tax benefit for builders and developers for reserving five per cent of flats to elders/disabled.
Promotion of elder friendly village concept then old age homes.
Ration benefit/subsidy for senior citizens living below the poverty line.
Comprehensive NPS for all.
Uniform pension for all.
Social security for people above 60 years and above to be increased up to Rs 3000/- per month.
Tax benefit and subsidy for organisation manufacturing elder care products.
Tax benefit for R&D in products and services for elderly people.
Tax benefit for universal design building and products.
More clarity on reverse mortgage and its implementation.
Promotion and tax benefit for alternative therapy.
Income generation and livelihood scheme like NREGA should be started.
SHG should be started in each taluka

Government should stop abusing the helpless senior citizens and must seriously consider providing better health care, social security and other benefits so that they can live with dignity, peace and security for rest of their life.

Promotion of community base care and ageing in place should be most important aspect of road map for successful and productive ageing.

Lets support the most neglected and ignored segment of our society, our elders.

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