Representation for simplifying procedure for classifying Senior Citizens as Below Poverty Line.

To                                                                                      Date: 1-5--11

Shri  B.K.Sinha,

Secretary,Ministry for Rural Development,

Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi-110066.

Respected Sir,

Sub: Representations made in the letter for Budget for 2011-12 for Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension (IGNOAP) to Senior Citizens.

Ref: i) Your E/Mail dt 24-1-11 to Shri Sanjay  and copy to me. ii) Your Office letter no. J-16020/1/2008-NSAP (Pt) dt 31-3-11(original not received but) copy received under another letter of same  no. dt 15-4-11, received on 25-4-11.

Thank you very much for getting my letter dt 21-1-11 to Minister for Rural Development examined as per copy of notings put up to you by Vinay Kumar 0n 21-3-11 and giving me reply vide letter dt 31-3-11.

Prime Minister`s Speech dt 19-11-2007 launching Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme clearly lays down that this scheme fulfills an important commitment of our Government towards providing a Social Security Net for all citizens above 65 living below poverty line. This was considered necessary, as establishing a ``destitute`` criterion was found problematic. Prime Minister had no where stated that one should belong to BPL Family. It was Rural Ministry, which included such condition instead of defining and deciding Poverty Line for this meager pension and States were asked to follow 13 parameters to classify a BPL Family, which procedure appears to be more problematic than finding out a destitute. These 13 parameters suggested by Expert Group may be very good for Rural Department to decide a particular programme for a particular village or even for a particular BPL Family but in no way easy or helpful to States for giving megre pension to poor senior citizens. Moreover, no guidelines are available for Urban Poor Senior Citizens and as explained in my letter to Minister, this has resulted in a situation like only 17 families are classified as BPL in Urban Area of Mira-Bhayander having more than 15 lakh population! There is a need of simplifying the existing procedure for payment of megre pension to our poor elders to avoid corruption and less harassment to this weaker section. Rural Ministry may have got reports from all Units about actual census done by them on the basis of Guidelines for BPL Census, 2002 and may also have modified these instructions for next 2 Plan Periods for which no information is given. As funds are given directly by Planning/Finance Ministries to States and Urban Ministry tells in writing that this subject of IGNOAP is not their concern but of Rural Ministry, we request you to examine and simplify the whole issue of paying megre amount to poor elders by deciding monetary Poverty Line and continue the classification of BPL Family, as necessary for your other Programmes. Just as NMBS was transferred to Department of Family Welfare w.e.f.

1-4-2001, this work may also be transferred to Ministry of S.J. & E. instead of simply monitoring and administering this important Social Security Programme of Poor Senior Citizens without reference to the needs of poor elders and without taking action for 12 years on relevant provisions (para 25) of NPOP, 99 for which action has to be taken by each Ministry (para 93).

As regards increasing the amount of pension to poor elders, points raised in para 8 of my letter dt 21-1-11 and earlier representations, no examination is done in the notings under reference. It was promised in your office letter no. J-16020/1/2008-NSAP (Pt) dt 27-4-10 in reply to my letter dt 27-5-09 to Minister of Finance that this requires inter-ministerial consultation and will be considered at appropriate time. As 2 years have passed even to this promise, this may be kindly got examined in detail and Cabinet`s approval, as necessary, may be obtained earlier, as non-fulfillment of the expectations of poor elders of the Country may be treated as their abuse.

!5-6-2011 is the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day declared by UNO. According to the INPEA, Elder Abuse is a single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship, where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person.  I reproduce below the proposed provision in the Revised Policy for Senior Citizens, 2011, as submitted to Minister of SJ&E for early appropriate action.

`` I. Income security in old age : A major intervention required in old age relates to financial insecurity as more than two third of the elderly live below the poverty line. It would increase with age uniformly across the country.

1. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme

1. Old age pension scheme would cover all senior citizens living below the poverty line.

2. Rate of monthly pension would be raised to Rs.1000 per month per person and revised at intervals to prevent its deflation due to higher cost of purchasing.

3. The „oldest old‟ would be covered under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS). They would be provided additional pension in case of disability, loss of adult children and concomitant responsibility for grand children and women. This would be reviewed every five years. ``

We shall be obliged, if various aspects are examined in detail and appropriate action taken early to help your elders.

Thanking You,

Yours Sincerely

(M.V.Ruparelia)