SU[PER-SENIOR CITIZENS

SUPER SENIOR CITIZENS

                                                                                                  -SANJOG MAHESHWARI

 

 

              Across the board, there should be a standard uniform definition of senior citizens throughout the country. Apart from this there should also be a separate category for some citizens- more advanced in age- say the males 75 and above and the females 70 and above who expect a little bit more compassion and consideration from the State and the society - a few extra benefits, amenities and facilities, over and above the other senior citizens, so that some sunshine could be added in the twilight years of their otherwise drab and cheerless life besieged, as it always is, with sufferings from hosts of terminal debilitating diseases, waging an ever losing struggle for survival against the heavy odds and ravages of “ills, bills, pills” and “empty nest” syndrome. The extra facilities and benefits to these citizens, who may be called “Super-senior citizens” are not going to cost too much to the State particularly because of the severely limited capacity of their bodily and mentally infirm users, who after-all, are not too many. Reasonably enough, among other things, they richly deserve: (1) Priority in the matter of healthcare and medical facilities (2) across the board 50% concession in the travel charges all classes by Air, train, buses or any other mode of transport with priority in reservation of seat/birth therein (3) total exemption from payment of Income Tax thereby relieving them of the worry of filing returns: except that a token 1% or 2% across the board T.D.S irrespective of the income earned by them may be levied and recovered as their modest contribution or pay back to the Society to be credited under a different revenue-head of account. Depending on their circumstances and other factors they may volunteer for higher percentage cut of T.D.S on income as a token expression of gratitude to the caring Society (4) Priority in grant of accommodation in Old Age Homes, Guest Houses, Rest Houses, Clubs, Hostels etc. so that they may have homes away from home for as long a period as they like, everywhere throughout the country, at concessional rates. Treating them thus-a little more equal among equals- won’t hurt nobody; neither their pride nor the interests of anybody else in the society nor, for that matter, is going to cost much to the government.

                If the Government takes quick and urgent initiative with the spirit of goodwill and welfare as the driving force, I am sure the private players owning hostels, dharamshalas, guest-houses, buses etc. may also join in this humanitarian endeavour. .

                                                                                                 

                                                                                                  -SANJOG MAHESHWARI