A not-for-profit organisation working for the rights of senior citizens, has asked political parties to address the requirements of over 100 million elderly voters in their manifestos for Lok Sabha poll.
Helpage India's north east unit has urged the parties to give due attention to the needs of elderly and include their issues in the manifestos as the number of senior citizens was expected to swell to 200 million by 2030.
Helpage India (NE) state head Nilondra Tanya said in a statement that there should be universal pension for all the seniors citizens-- both above poverty line and below poverty line-- excluding those who are income tax payers.
The minimum pension amount should be Rs 2,000 with the Centre providing Rs 1,000 and the rest to be borne by the State.
Geriatric Healthcare facilities should be extended to all the districts of the country along the lines of Rajiv Gandhi Arogya Shree Scheme being currently run by the Andhra Pradesh Government only. This has to be accompanied by Elder Helplines as in Andhra Pradesh.
Assured Health Insurance as per the Rastriya Swasthaya Bima Yojana (RSBY) should be given and old age homes should be constructed and run, at least one in all the 622 districts.
This was promised under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007 but not implemented (except one constructed in Gurdaspur by HelpAge India with GOI and MPLAD funds), Tanya added.
