Pension parishad to press for senior citizen pension in budget

More than 100 social organisations from across the country have come together to form a 'pension parishad' seeking addressal of universal pension for the elderly people in the upcoming Union budget. "We need a decisive response from the government and its inclusion in this year's budget. We have decided to now launch a major campaign to demand that substantial provisions are made to universalise pensions in this budget," social activist and National Advisory Council (NAC) member Aruna Roy said in a statement. Roy said the organisation is planning to organise an all India mobilisation campaign in the coming months that will culminate in a gathering of thousands of people in Delhi between the March 4 and 8. "At no time has the life of the elderly been as precarious and uncertain as it is today, with the aged battling life threatening odds. This is confounded by the fact that there is poor delivery of the scheme," she said. Millions of elderly people are living a life of extreme vulnerability and destitution in the absence of any monetary income or support, the social activist said. Observing that Indian social security system entitles elderly people from BPL families to a pension of Rs 200 per month, she said some state governments enhance this amount with their own contribution. "However, this is not a uniform amount, and thus states exist where the amount of pensions paid is abysmally low." More than 80 Parliamentarians have signed a memorandum in support of universal old age pensions, she added.