Senior citizens list out demands at rally
Special Correspondent
October 02, 2018 00:00 IST
Senior citizens holding placards at a rally in Ramanathapuram on Monday.L. Balachandar
Elderly men and women on Monday took out a rally here on the occasion of World Senior Citizens day, pressing a charter of demands including 50% fare concession in express trains and domestic air services without gender disparity.
Sub Judge V. Ramalingam, who is secretary of District Legal Services Authority, flagged off the rally.
The senior citizens made their way through the main thoroughfares from Aranmanai holding placards highlighting their demands.
S. Jesuraj, president, District Senior Citizens Federation, who led the rally, urged the railways to make available 50% concession in express trains to them. At present, women were given 50% concession and men 40%, he said.
He also urged the railways to allot 25% of the lower berths in each coach to senior citizens. Airline companies had announced 50% fare concession to women who had completed 63 years and men 65 years, but the concession had not materialised.
Further, the Centre should fix Rs. 6 lakh income tax ceiling for senior citizens and exempt pensioners (Centre and State governments) from the IT bracket. The State government should double the old age pension (OAP) from the present Rs. 1,000 and restore OAP to many deserving senior citizens from whom it had been taken away.
As announced in the AIADMK election manifesto, the government should provide free bus passes to senior citizens throughout the State. Despite repeated pleas, and repeated assurances by authorities, a geriatric ward for senior citizens remained a distant dream, he said.
Mr. Ramalingam said a counselling centre would be set up for senior citizens and he also promised to look into their other demands.
Federation secretary N. Ramakrishnan and treasurer P. Ravindran were present on the occasion.
Special Correspondent
October 02, 2018 00:00 IST
Senior citizens holding placards at a rally in Ramanathapuram on Monday.L. Balachandar
Elderly men and women on Monday took out a rally here on the occasion of World Senior Citizens day, pressing a charter of demands including 50% fare concession in express trains and domestic air services without gender disparity.
Sub Judge V. Ramalingam, who is secretary of District Legal Services Authority, flagged off the rally.
The senior citizens made their way through the main thoroughfares from Aranmanai holding placards highlighting their demands.
S. Jesuraj, president, District Senior Citizens Federation, who led the rally, urged the railways to make available 50% concession in express trains to them. At present, women were given 50% concession and men 40%, he said.
He also urged the railways to allot 25% of the lower berths in each coach to senior citizens. Airline companies had announced 50% fare concession to women who had completed 63 years and men 65 years, but the concession had not materialised.
Further, the Centre should fix Rs. 6 lakh income tax ceiling for senior citizens and exempt pensioners (Centre and State governments) from the IT bracket. The State government should double the old age pension (OAP) from the present Rs. 1,000 and restore OAP to many deserving senior citizens from whom it had been taken away.
As announced in the AIADMK election manifesto, the government should provide free bus passes to senior citizens throughout the State. Despite repeated pleas, and repeated assurances by authorities, a geriatric ward for senior citizens remained a distant dream, he said.
Mr. Ramalingam said a counselling centre would be set up for senior citizens and he also promised to look into their other demands.
Federation secretary N. Ramakrishnan and treasurer P. Ravindran were present on the occasion.
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