Keeping in view welfare of senior citizens (60+years) in the State, members of the State Federation of Senior Citizens’ Associations and HelpAge India staged a dharna here on Monday appealing to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for announcement and implementation of a State policy for senior citizens with adequate budget provisions.
The demands included creation of a separate department for senior citizens, provision of public health service and health insurance to all elders to ensure fulfilment of preventive, restorative and rehabilitative needs of the older persons and benefits under the NRHM schemes for them.
State head of HelpAge India Rashmi Mohanty said there should be a hike in the old age pension from Rs 300 to Rs 2,000 along with setting up of senior citizen cells in all police stations, opening of geriatric wards in all the district and sub-divisional hospitals, inclusion of elders as a beneficiaries in the MGNREGA activities and issuance of identity cards to them.
“Wide publicity through media, dissemination of information through IEC, street play at the grassroots level to generate awareness on various laws and benefits under various schemes intended for senior citizens among the public in general and the elderly in particular should be undertaken,” said the federation’s general secretary Jugal Kishore Sahoo, adding that media should be sensitised to highlight the issues of the elderly and services meant for them.
The dharna continued from 10 am to 1 pm, after which a memorandum was submitted to the Chief Minister.
Earlier, the members had taken out a silent march from the Master Canteen Square to the lower PMG by wearing black badges.
After reaching the lower PMG, a condolence motion was moved by the federation president for an old woman, Hemalata Swain (80), of Balunka village under Nimapara block, who died due to the merciless beating by the police without any reason. The motion was passed unanimously.
The agitation would be intensified if steps are not taken to meet the demands, informed Sahoo.