Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Senior citizens ask Government to constitute State Council

Special Correspondent

It should be headed by Chief Minister

Coimbatore: The Tamil Nadu Senior Citizens and Pensioners' Welfare Association has urged the State Government to constitute a State Council headed by the Chief Minister to implement the National Policy on Older Persons as per the guidelines of the Government of India.

Memorandum submitted

In a memorandum to the Chief Minister, M.Karunanidhi, the State general secretary of the association, S.M.Chellaswamy, said that the well-being of older persons has been mandated in the Constitution of India.

Article 41 (A) Directive Principle of State Policy has directed that the State shall, within the limits of its economic capacity and development, make effective provision for securing the right to public assistance in cases of old age, he pointed out. There were other provisions too which directed the State to improve the quality of life of its citizens. Right to equality has been guaranteed by the Constitution as a fundamentals right. "These provisions apply to older persons also." Social security has been made the concurrent responsibility of the Central and State Governments.

Mandatory provisions

He submitted that considering the mandatory provisions of the Constitution and other existing rules and regulations, National Policy on Older Persons was adopted by the Government of India in 1999, and that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment had prepared a draft plan of action 2000-05 in consultation with the National Council for Older Persons.

Nodal officers

With reference to the plan of action 2000-05, the Government of Delhi and Andhra Pradesh had nominated the concerned commissioners dealing with senior citizens as Nodal officers for implementation of National Policy for older persons and created the council for implementing the policy advisory body at the State-level.

Hence, he appealed to the Chief Minister to constitute a State council on these lines.

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