Pensioners Welfare Federation holds meet in Pulwama
Demand amenities for senior citizens
By: Mushtaq ul Islam
Pulwama: President of All Jammu and Kashmir Pensioners Welfare Federation, Ghulam Hassan Talib, on Wednesday demanded authorities for provisions of various amenities to senior citizens of the region.
After addressing a meet of the federation members at Moon Villa, he revealed that the pensioners of Jammu and Kashmir demand implementation of various constitutional rights for senior citizens of the region.
He said that senior citizens throughout the country have been entitled to a card which they can avail by applying online.
He said that senior citizens from Jammu and Kashmir are unable to get this card online due to certain reasons.
“We appeal the lieutenant governor for intervention to redress this issue,” he said, adding that the pensioners have been receiving a medical allowance of rupees 300 per month.
He added that this is a meager amount which falls short to meet monthly medical expenses and appealed government for raising it to rupees 1000.
“ Our pensioners are not associated with any health scheme because they face difficulties in making and submitting necessary documents for these schemes so it is our earnest appeal to government to increase the medical allowance for the pensioners,” he said, adding that pensioners who reach the age of 80 years are being paid an additional pension of 20 per cent by the government.
He, however, said that all pensioners don’t reach 80 years of age.
“We request government to release the 10 percent of the additional pension at 70 years of age, 15 percent at 75 and 20 percent at 80 years,” he said.
He also revealed that central government has passed an act, senior citizens act, which is being implemented in all parts of the country expect Jammu and Kashmir.
He appealed for implementation of senior citizens act in Jammu and Kashmir for ensuring dignity for the aged residents.
