National
Senior citizens press demands for facilities
The senior citizens movement saw a ray of hope after nearly four years on Friday when their delegation was invited to the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (MoWCSW) to hear out their demands.The senior citizens movement saw a ray of hope after nearly four years on Friday when their delegation was invited to the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (MoWCSW) to hear out their demands.
Senior citizens have been staging peaceful sit-ins twice every day at Minbhawan in Kathmandu demanding various facilities and services, including allowance raise, free medical treatment and 50 percent discount on transportation fares.
On Friday, they got the opportunity of keeping their demands before the government officials.
They said they have been unable to enjoy the rights and facilities announced by the state due to the government’s failure to implement the Act concerning the senior
citizens.
Citizens Act 2006, Senior Citizens Regulations 2008 and last year’s directive on providing services to the senior citizens are three major laws formulated to help provide easy services to the senior citizens.
There are Acts made especially to facilitate the old people like us, but the ministry has done nothing to ensure that these laws are implemented to ease our plights, said Nagendra Khadka, president of Senior Citizens United Struggle Committee.
Last year the government had decided to make special identity cards for the elderly citizens so that they could get discount on public vehicles. The decision has not been implemented yet.
MoWSC Secretary Madhu Prasad Regmi assured that the ministry will come up with the programmes focusing on the benefits and services for senior citizens of the country after consulting with other stakeholders.