MP govt signs MoU with IRCTC under 'pilgrimage' scheme

Bhopal: As many as 60,000 senior citizens from Madhya Pradesh could visit select holy places across the country under a special 'pilgrimage' scheme for which the state government signed an MoU with IRCTC on 8^th August.

The agreement under 'Mukhyamantri Teerth-Darshan Yojna' was signed by Principal Secretary (Revenue) for Religious Trusts and Endowments, Basant Pratap Singh, with IRCTC Group General Manager Virendra Singh in presence of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, sources said. Describing the moment "historic", Chouhan said," religion is the soul of this country. Besides physical progress and prosperity (of its people), the state government has been making efforts to ensure that senior citizens visit religious places".

'Teerth-Darshan Yojna' is an ambitious scheme of the state government. As many as 60,000 senior citizens will be sent on pilgrimage this year, Chouhan is quoted as saying by the sources. Under the scheme, religious places of all faiths have been identified and the IRCTC will make all arrangements for the journey of pilgrims, their food, insurance, medical treatment and providing them with a guide.

The first train of the pilgrims under the scheme will leave for Rameshwaram from Habibganj Railway Station on September 3, 2012, sources said. The selected centres of pilgrimage are Badrinath, Kedarnath, Jagannath Puri, Dwarkapuri, Haridwar, Amarnath, Vaishnodevi, Shirdi, Tirupati, Ajmer Sharif, Kashi (Varanasi), Gaya, Amritsar, Rameshwaram, Sammved-Shikhar, Shravan Belgola, and Velangadi Church, Nagapattnam (Tamil Nadu).

***

This blog is the online version of "VOICE OF SENIOR CITIZENS", a bilingual (Telugu & English) monthly newspaper, published from Hyderabad).

If you want to become its subscriber,

Contact : S. Bhooma Reddy,
Editor, VOICE OF SENIOR CITIZENS, 
402, A-block, PBR Estate, 
Padma Colony, Nallakunta, Hyderabad-44. 
Ph. No: 040-27625209
Mail  Id: silvercitizens@gmail.com

* This blog is run by CSR Technosoft, a Hyderabad based IT& ITES firm.
Contact: www.csrtechnosoft.blogspot.com

Gross rights violation at government-run old age home: NGO

Shimla: An NGO working with the differently abled and elderly on July 15^th alleged gross violation of human rights at a government-run old age home in Basantpur near here and threatened to go to court if a judicial inquiry is not conducted in this regard. In a letter to the state Chief Secretary, NGO Umang Foundation set a deadline of fifteen days after which it will approach court. Its chairman, Ajay Srivastav, claimed that he had raised the issue of rights violation of inmates with the government, but they denied it. Out of 19 inmates at the old age home, 16 were disabled and some of them mentally ill, he said. However, citing an RTI response, he alleged that the old age home was not providing medical help to the sick and the inmates were living in extremely pathetic conditions. A mentally ill inmate had allegedly died on June 18 due to lapses in his care and was not cremated properly according to Hindu rites, Srivastav also said.

***

This blog is the online version of "VOICE OF SENIOR CITIZENS", a bilingual (Telugu & English) monthly newspaper, published from Hyderabad).

If you want to become its subscriber,

Contact : S. Bhooma Reddy,
Editor, VOICE OF SENIOR CITIZENS, 
402, A-block, PBR Estate, 
Padma Colony, Nallakunta, Hyderabad-44. 
Ph. No: 040-27625209
Mail  Id: silvercitizens@gmail.com

* This blog is run by CSR Technosoft, a Hyderabad based IT& ITES firm.
Contact: www.csrtechnosoft.blogspot.com

QUOTATIONS

1.      The future depends on what we do in the present.

          -----------Mahatma Gandhi.

2.  Life is change, growth is optional, choose wisely.

           -Karen Kaiser Clark.

3.  We can do no great things; only small things with great love.

       -------------Mother Teresa.

4.  Understanding human needs is half the job of meeting them.

    -----------Adlai Stevenson.

5.  Try not to become a man of success but a man of value.

  -------Albert Einstein.

6. A drop of ink can make millions think.

7. Be like a candle by consuming itself, gives light to others.

8.  Life is not about the destination. But the journey that gets us there …

9. Life –transforming ideas have always come to me through books.

       ---BELL HOOKS.

10.  Today , more than ever before , life must be characterized by a sense of Universal Responsibility , not only nation to nation and human to human , but also human to other forms of life.

      ----Dalai Lama.

11. God is not present in idols. Your feelings are your god . The soul is your temple.

     -----Chanakya.

12 . The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

      ----Mahatma Gandhi.

This blog is the online version of "VOICE OF SENIOR CITIZENS", a bilingual (Telugu & English)

monthly newspaper, published from Hyderabad).

If you want to become its subscriber,

Contact : S. Bhooma Reddy,
Editor, VOICE OF SENIOR CITIZENS, 
402, A-block, PBR Estate, 
Padma Colony, Nallakunta, Hyderabad-44. 
Ph. No: 040-27625209
Mail  Id: silvercitizens@gmail.com

* This blog is run by CSR Technosoft, a Hyderabad based IT& ITES firm.
Contact: www.csrtechnosoft.blogspot.com

Senior Citizens Observe protest day

Hyderabad: In a response to the call given by Joint Action Committee (JAC) of All India Senior Citizens Organizations, Pensioners’ associations, NGOs and other organizations, the senior citizens observed protest day on 16^th August across the country against the indifferent attitude of governments in implementing National Policy on Older Persons (NPOP) & Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.

Hundreds of senior citizens participated in the rallies and dharnas. Members of various senior citizens participated in the rally, wearing black badges, and carrying placards and banners with slogans. They enthusiastically participated in the public meetings, seminars, group discussions, peace rallies and demonstrations across the country to show their unity, strength and solidarity. The senior citizen delegations in the country met respective state ministers, MPs and MLAs submitted memorandums.

In Hyderabad, the senior citizens associations observed protest day on 16^th August at Kukatpally, Kothapeta, Dilsukh Nagar, AS Rao Nagar, Tarnaka, Bouddha Nagar, Rajendra Nagar, and Hydera guda , Alwal and Malkajigr areas.

Later, under the aegis of Joint Action Committee of Senior citizens associations led by Ch. Parameswar Reddy, V. Nageswara Rao, L. Srikanth Mrunal (Help Age India) and other prominent senior citizens met Smt. Suneetha Laxma Reddy, minister for Women and Child Welfare and Disabled and Senior Citizens Department. The delegation made an appeal to the minister to take necessary action for the implementation of senior citizens welfare acts and schemes in the state. She assured the delegation that she would take the matter to the notice of chief minister and try her best to solve the problems of senior citizens.

In Andhra Pradesh, at various district headquarters and prominent municipalities and towns, citizens observed protest day and submitted memorandums to the local government officers, MPs, and MLAs.

The union government adopted a national policy for older persons (NPOP) in 1999 but, its implementation has been very slow. The Andhra Pradesh government also adopted the policy and published an action plan in 2004. But, the policies remained only on paper till date and another important welfare act - the maintenance and welfare of parents and senior citizens act 2007 is not yet implemented in the true spirit of the act. In the past, the senior citizens associations and NGOs have made representations to the state government in this regard. Under these circumstances, the senior citizens’ organizations, pensioners’ associations, NGOs working for care and welfare of elders have been observing protest day on August, 16^th for the last two years. This is the third time for the elders to observe the protest day in the country.

The main demands of the senior citizens are:

·         Implementation of national policy on older persons (NPOP) in all the states.

·         Implementation of Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 and formation of tribunals in all the districts in the state.

·         50% concession in RTC bus fares.

·         Increase in pensions for senior citizens from the current range of Rs.200-400 to Rs.2,000

·         Extension of Arogya Sree and Health Care Schemes to middle class senior citizens above the poverty line but below the income tax paying slab.

·         Health Insurance policies at affordable premiums.

·         Construction of old age homes in all important towns in the state

·         Implement the welfare schemes for the betterment of life of senior citizens at their twilight times

·         Separate department for the senior citizens should be created in the state government.

***

This blog is the online version of "VOICE OF SENIOR CITIZENS", a bilingual (Telugu & English)

monthly newspaper, published from Hyderabad).

If you want to become its subscriber,

Contact : S. Bhooma Reddy,
Editor, VOICE OF SENIOR CITIZENS, 
402, A-block, PBR Estate, 
Padma Colony, Nallakunta, Hyderabad-44. 
Ph. No: 040-27625209
Mail  Id: silvercitizens@gmail.com

* This blog is run by CSR Technosoft, a Hyderabad based IT& ITES firm.
Contact: www.csrtechnosoft.blogspot.com

Senior citizens: Ministry asks states to sensitise police

New Delhi: Promoting safety of senior citizens, the Social Justice Ministry has asked all state governments to conduct programs to sensitise their police and administration on providing security to the elderly. In a letter addressed to all the Chief Ministers, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Mukul Wasnik has told them about the various programs which can conducted by them for promoting safety and security of senior citizens. The Ministry has also informed the states that 'Security of Senior Citizens' has been identified as the theme for this year's International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) on October 1.

"I shall be grateful if you could please issue instructions for its observance in a befitting manner at state, district and block level also. This could be done by holding suitable programs and activities pertaining to the identified theme in addition to other activities that are organised each year," Wasnik wrote in the letter. In his letter, the Minister recommended programs for "sensitisation of police as well as Civil Administration about the security of life and property of senior citizens" and conducting "awareness campaigns to spread education about the concerns and issues of elderly people". Wasnik has also asked the states to create awareness for ensuring financial security and stability of senior citizens and ensuring availability of facilities of reverse mortgage of property to ensure regular income for them. The Minister suggested that the states organise these programs with involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions, municipal bodies, Nehru Yuva Kendras, educational institutions and NGOs for maximum benefits to the senior citizens.

***

This blog is the online version of "VOICE OF SENIOR CITIZENS", a bilingual (Telugu & English)

monthly newspaper, published from Hyderabad).

If you want to become its subscriber,

Contact : S. Bhooma Reddy,
Editor, VOICE OF SENIOR CITIZENS, 
402, A-block, PBR Estate, 
Padma Colony, Nallakunta, Hyderabad-44. 
Ph. No: 040-27625209
Mail  Id: silvercitizens@gmail.com

* This blog is run by CSR Technosoft, a Hyderabad based IT& ITES firm.
Contact: www.csrtechnosoft.blogspot.com

Elderly, disabled to get speedy justice

NEW DELHI: The Delhi district courts have finally woken up to the plight of senior citizens and disabled. In a recent order issued by the Delhi high court, all trial court judges have been asked to have a "special focus" on the cases involving senior citizens, minors, disabled and other marginalized groups and dispose of these cases at the earliest. This comes as a part of the campaign, 'Five-plus free', that aims to dispose of the cases pending for more than five years by the end of this year. The letter, which was sent recently to all district and sessions court judges, has asked the judicial officers to prioritize the cases involving such groups.

"I am to request you all that all judicial officers under your control may be asked to target to make the judicial system five-plus free by the end of 2012 as far as possible, along with special focus on disposal of cases of senior citizens, minors, disabled and other marginalized groups of the society and the under trials," said the letter issued by the registrar general of the high court.
For this, the high court has also provided for a mechanism to the trial court judges so that they can segregate cases of the target groups from that of the other old cases. In this, the trial court judges will be required to identify the cases of the targeted groups and maintain a separate database for the disposal of these cases.

The decision to put these cases have been welcomed by the lower court judges and lawyers alike, who say these sections of society suffer the most due to the long pendency of trials. "This is a great initiative on part of the courts. Justice delayed is justice denied and especially in cases of senior citizens and disabled, the justice should be given expeditiously," said lawyer Vijay Aggarwal, who is the counsel for several accused in the 2G spectrum allocation scam.

The high court has asked the trial courts to file their progress report by January 20 next year. HC has also given the liberty to the trial court judges to "adopt appropriate measures" that the judges feel are required to bring down the huge pendency of cases. The one-year campaign, which started in February, comes at a time when the trial courts are dealing with a backlog of over seven lakh cases.

***

This blog is the online version of "VOICE OF SENIOR CITIZENS", a bilingual (Telugu & English)

monthly newspaper, published from Hyderabad).

If you want to become its subscriber,

Contact : S. Bhooma Reddy,
Editor, VOICE OF SENIOR CITIZENS, 
402, A-block, PBR Estate, 
Padma Colony, Nallakunta, Hyderabad-44. 
Ph. No: 040-27625209
Mail  Id: silvercitizens@gmail.com

* This blog is run by CSR Technosoft, a Hyderabad based IT& ITES firm.
Contact: www.csrtechnosoft.blogspot.com

Elderly, disabled to get speedy justice

NEW DELHI: The Delhi district courts have finally woken up to the plight of senior citizens and disabled. In a recent order issued by the Delhi high court, all trial court judges have been asked to have a "special focus" on the cases involving senior citizens, minors, disabled and other marginalized groups and dispose of these cases at the earliest. This comes as a part of the campaign, 'Five-plus free', that aims to dispose of the cases pending for more than five years by the end of this year. The letter, which was sent recently to all district and sessions court judges, has asked the judicial officers to prioritize the cases involving such groups.

"I am to request you all that all judicial officers under your control may be asked to target to make the judicial system five-plus free by the end of 2012 as far as possible, along with special focus on disposal of cases of senior citizens, minors, disabled and other marginalized groups of the society and the under trials," said the letter issued by the registrar general of the high court.
For this, the high court has also provided for a mechanism to the trial court judges so that they can segregate cases of the target groups from that of the other old cases. In this, the trial court judges will be required to identify the cases of the targeted groups and maintain a separate database for the disposal of these cases.

The decision to put these cases have been welcomed by the lower court judges and lawyers alike, who say these sections of society suffer the most due to the long pendency of trials. "This is a great initiative on part of the courts. Justice delayed is justice denied and especially in cases of senior citizens and disabled, the justice should be given expeditiously," said lawyer Vijay Aggarwal, who is the counsel for several accused in the 2G spectrum allocation scam.

The high court has asked the trial courts to file their progress report by January 20 next year. HC has also given the liberty to the trial court judges to "adopt appropriate measures" that the judges feel are required to bring down the huge pendency of cases. The one-year campaign, which started in February, comes at a time when the trial courts are dealing with a backlog of over seven lakh cases.

***