The Hindu : New Delhi News : A new forum for senior citizens

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Saturday, Jul 19, 2008
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A new forum for senior citizens

Staff Reporter

To focus on their problems such as old age homes, health, insurance

NEW DELHI: A new forum – Delhi Senior Citizens’ Federation -- to focus on the problems of senior citizens has been formed under the chairmanship of former Delhi Assembly Speaker Charti Lal Goel.

Informing media persons of the new initiative, former Union Minister Vijay Goel said the Federation would take up issues like provision of old age homes in all Delhi Assembly constituencies, health and general insurance for people above 70 years, and exemption up to 50 per cent for men and women in railway fares.

Mr. Goel said the age for declaring a person “senior citizen” should be fixed across the country to avoid confusion. Currently at many places the minimum age for a senior citizen is 65 years, while at others it is either 60 or 62. He also demanded that the Delhi Development Authority grant land at concessional rates for construction of old age homes and entertainment centres for the old.

Safety

The former Union Minister said many senior citizens in the Capital, particularly those living alone, feel insecure as they become soft targets for criminals.

He also said the number of murders of senior citizens in the Capital had shot up in the past couple of years.

The Federation will hold its first conference to discuss all these issues at FICCI Auditorium in the Capital this coming Sunday.

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