Senior citizens of Dhanbad are all set to launch a signature drive against withdrawal of concession by railways under a forum named as Senior Citizens for Restoration for Railway Concessions.
The first phase of the signature campaign has been completed and a fortnightly long second phase of campaign is to commence from August 24 and conclude on September 8 with handing over memorandum to Rail minister on that day .
Convenor of the forum septuagenarian Anil Pandey said ,"Our demand is to restore the concessions for the senior citizens as they were ahead of the corona period ".
Pandey said , first the concessions were suspended owing to corona and the railway started charging special fares by converting all trains as specials. Now when the special tag has been withdrawn the concessions you have been withdrawn in name of so-called losses."
"On behalf of forum members I just ask one question from the railway minister: why has he not withdrawn all such concessions from MPs and MLAs both sitting and retired ones as this is more expensive than that concession being given to senior citizens", said Pandey.
He said that most of the senior citizens depend on their meager income and do have to travel owing health reasons or to attend family functions both auspicious and otherwise too. Majority of times it's an urgent need not pleasure trip thus withdrawing it is just like pickpocketing senior citizens.
He informed that VRS Employees Association Of FCI Sindri led by Sewa Singh has already handed over a memorandum to the Railway minister and has demanded restoration of the old pattern of concession for senior citizens.