LET US NOT THINK " WHAT CAN I
GAIN?" BUT "WHAT CAN I CONTRIBUTE?"- Sri Ravishankar
(Site Updated on 10th July 2010)
SPECIAL PROGRAMME
HelpAge India in association with Senior Citizens Forum has opened a Physio Therapy Centre at DAY CARE CENTRE, Near 10 No Bus stop. Senior Citizens can avail common physio therapies on payment of a token fee of Rs 20 per treatment. The usual charges in a Physio Clinic are Rs 100.
World Elder Abuse Day- Abuse by Governments.
!5-6-2010 is the World Elder Abuse Awareness
Day declared by UNO. Our Government had declared a comprehensive National
Policy of Older Persons in 1999 with clear directive in each of 98 paras
of the Policy that provision made in each para will be done and no where
words ``shall or may be done`` were used.Ministry of Social Justice entrusted
to implement this Policy feels that Policy is for guidance only! All other
Ministries believe that they are not concerned with Policy and only Nodal
Ministry has to deal with the subject!! Only 6 States & UT's, out
of 35 States and UT's, have so far accepted [not implemented ! ] this
Policy,99. Remaining 29 States/UTs have not even taken cognizance of it.
Even out of the 6 States/UTs, none has really implemented it to any considerable
level!!
The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 is implemented partially in only three States in three years! Senior Citizens in 32 States and UT's are still deprived of its benefits.
No State/UT has made any progress for providing Old Age Homes in each District, as mandated in MWPS Act, 2007.
Today the poorest among poor are Senior Citizens. The worst sufferers
are the very old that is 65+ belonging to BPL category. 70% of them live
in villages and survive by doing physical labour. They are miserable because
they are unable to do hard work because of age related disabilities. The
Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme assured them minimum of
Rs 400 per month pension which would have made their last few years little
comfortable, but it was not to be. Out of 35 States and UT's, 24 have
not bothered to look at this scheme. Among 11 which claim to have implemented
it, it has become an instrument for extending political favour and majority
of eligible are excluded. In Andhra Pradesh only Rs 200/- are paid and
that too through self appointed community leaders and Panchayats, who
pass on only Rs 100/- to Rs 150/-. Our random surveys showed that more
than 50% of elders were deprived even of this.
A Day long Seminar was held in the Day Care Centre of Senior Citizens Forum, Bhopal. It was jointly organised by HelpAge and M P Federation of Senior Citizens. Shri K S Sharma, Ex-Chief Secretary of MP was the Keynote speaker. Justice R D Shukla, Prof Asha Shukla, Mrs Mishra, S K Sharma etc gave their views on the subject of ELDER ABUSE.
TOBACCO ERADICATION PROGRAMME : RALLY HELD ON 31 MAY AT 1600 HRS AT NEW MAKET. A MEMORUNDUM WAS PRESENTED TO THE CHIEF MINISTER
(A Free Medical Consultation camp was arranged earlier by Gayatri Parivar and Senior Citizens Forum at the Day Care Centre on 14th February (Valentine Day) to educate senior citizens about the common old age diseases. The Ninth programme was held on 9th May. A Team of Sixteen Doctors attended to over 200 patients. Similar camps are to be held in other parts of the city and these would be advertised in advance. Bhaskar Group of Newspapers cosponsored the camp.)
Kaththak Dance classes for children
Bharatnatyam dance classes
Central Government Women's Advisory Forum operates from Day Care Centre.
Contact Smt Acharya for further information
Distribution of Fruits and Gifts to the Patients and Needy Senior Citizens
Environmental Protection of the public places of importance and Parks
Creating Social Awareness Against the Use of Plastic Bags
Social awareness against the use of tobacco and other social evils.
We continue to work along with Global Cancer Concern. So far over 40 Cancer
Detection Camps were conducted.
Recreational Facilities provided like Card Room, Library and Meditation
Room for Elders
Recent Comments about Sachin Tendulkar
"Nothing bad can happen to us if we're on a plane
in India with Sachin Tendulkar on it."
- Hashim Amla, the South African batsman, reassures himself as he boards
a flight.
"Sometimes you get so engrossed in watching batsmen
like Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar that you lose focus on your job."
- Yaseer Hameed in pakistani newspaper.
"To Sachin, the man we all want to be"
- Andrew Symonds wrote on an aussie t-shirt he autographed specially for
Sachin.
"Beneath the helmet, under that unruly curly hair,
inside the cranium, there is something we don't know, something beyond
scientific measure. Something that allows him to soar, to roam a territory
of sport that, forget us, even those who are gifted enough to play alongside
him cannot even fathom. When he goes out to bat, people switch on their
TV sets and switch off their lives."
- BBC on Sachin.
"Tujhe pata hai tune kiska catch chhoda hai?"
- Wasim Akram to Abdul Razzaq when the latter dropped Sachin's catch in
2003 WC.
Sachin is a genius. I'm a mere mortal.
- Brian Charles Lara.
"We did not lose to a team called India ...we lost
to a man called Sachin."
- Mark Taylor, during the test match in Chennai (1997)
"The more I see of him the more confused I'm getting
to which is his best knock."
- M. L. Jaisimha
"The joy he brings to the millions of his countrymen,
the grace with which he handles all the adulation and the expectations
and his innate humility - all make for a one-in-a-billion individual,"
- Glen McGrath
"I can be hundred per cent sure that Sachin will
not play for a minute longer when he is not enjoying himself. He is still
so eager to go out there and play. He will play as long as he feels he
can play,"
- Anjali Tendulkar
Question: Who do you think as most important celebrity
?
Shah Rukh Khan: There was a big party where stars from bollywood and cricket
were invited. Suddenly, there was a big noise, all wanted to see approaching
Amitabh Bachhan. Then Sachin entered the hall and Amitabh was leading
the queue to get a grab of the GENIUS!!
- Shah Rukh Khan in an interview.
" India me aap PrimeMinister ko ek Baar Katghare
me khada kar sakte hain..Par Sachin Tendulkar par Ungli nahi utha Sakte.."
- Navjot Singh Sidhu on TV
He can play that leg glance with a walking stick also.
- Waqar Younis
Sachin Tendulkar has often reminded me of a veteran army
colonel who has many medals on his chest to show how he has conquered
bowlers all over the world. I was bowling to Sachin and he hit me for
two fours in a row. One from point and the other in between point and
gully. That was the last two balls of the over and the over after that
we (SA) took a wicket and during the group meeting i told Jonty (Rhodes)
to be alert and i know a way to pin Sachin. And i delivered the first
ball of my next over and it was a fuller length delevery outside offstump.
And i shouted catch. To my astonishment the ball was hit to the cover
boundary. Such was the brilliance of Sachin. His reflex time is the best
i have ever seen. Its like 1/20th of a sec. To get his wicket better not
prepare. Atleast u wont regret if he hits you for boundaries.
- Allan Donald
On a train from Shimla to Delhi , there was a halt in
one of the stations. The train stopped by for few minutes as usual. Sachin
was nearing century, batting on 98. The passengers, railway officials,
everyone on the train waited for Sachin to complete the century. This
Genius can stop time in India !!
- Peter Rebouck - Aussie journalist
"Sachin cannot cheat. He is to cricket what (Mahatma)
Gandhiji was to politics. It's clear discrimination. "
- NKP Salve, former Union Minister when Sachin was accused of ball tempering
There are 2 kind of batsmen in the world. One Sachin Tendulkar.
Two all the others.
- Andy Flower
"I have seen god, he bats at no.4 for India "
- Mathew Hayden
"Commit all your sins when Sachin is batting. They
will go unnoticed coz even the GOD is watching"
- A hoarding in England
Joshi, Ruchir. "Bat out of Heaven: Many Factors Divide
India, but Two Things Unite it: Cricket and a Star Named Sachin Tendulkar."
Time International (April 29, 2002): 40.
NOW THIS ONE IS PROBABLY THE BEST AND MOST CUTEST OF THE
LOT
"Even my father's name is Sachin Tendulkar."
- Tendulkar's daughter, Sara, tells her class, her father's name after
the teacher informs them of a restaurant of the same name in Mumbai.
State Convention of Senior Citizens
The first State convention of Senior Citizens
was held at Deendayal Parisar on 27 Dec. The convention was jointly organized
by HelpAge (India) and M P State Confederation of Senior Citizens. Shri
O N Shrivastava, Retd Governor of Meghalaya and Nagaland was the Chief
Guest while Justice R D Shukla presided over the function.
Shri S K Saraswat, President of the State Senior Citizens Federation recalled
the assurance given Three years ago by the M P Government to set up a
Commission for Senior Citizens. He hoped that the BJP government would
announce the formation without further delay. Federation Secretary, Shri
K K Bhatt highlighted the activities during the year. Free medical camps,
Body and Organ donation campaign, spiritual discourses, free classes for
disadvantaged children and participation in the formulation of the state
policy for the welfare of senior citizens were some the major activities.
Shri S K Sharma, State Mgr of HelpAge highlighted the plight of senior
citizens, particularly in rural areas and indicated the effort being made
by the organization to provide help to them. A Help line has been set
up at their Bhopal office to provide 24-hour assistance to them.
Shri O N Shrivastava, advised the senior citizens to take up purposeful
social activities. Environment protection can be a very apt area. They
should personally not use polythene bags, raise their voice to protect
trees, save the lakes of Bhopal from pollution and prevail upon their
family and their friends to avoid wastage of energy and control emission.
Justice Shukla guided the members to work out a policy paper to be submitted
to the State government to take up issues on priority for the welfare
of senior citizens whose number is bound to increase with better healthcare.
Shri Ghanshyam Saxena proposed the vote of thanks.
WORKSHOP ON POLICIES FOR ELDERS
Help Age India in association with M P State Federation of Senior Citizens held a day long workshop today to "Review the Implementation of Stae Policy for Older People". Shri S K Saraswat, President of the Federation chaired the workshop. Shri S K Sharma State Mgr of HelpAge indiated the objective of the workshop. Shri K S Sharma, Retored Chief Secy and JUstice R D Shukla were distinguished guests. Approximately 100 senior citizens attended. The prominant speakers who spoke on various topics were Shri Dinesh Mishra(Financial Security), Shri R K Shrivastava(Govt Initiatives and follow up action required), Shri Prem Babu Sharma, AIG (Protection of life and property), Dr Ohri and Dr Sharma (Health and Geriatics), Shri R S Shrivastava (Education and Research), Dr R P Mishra (Welfare) and Shri K.K. Bhatt (Role of NGOs).
prominent:
Concessions available and needed
Facilities provided and additinal required
Care of Poor and Sick, particularly in rural areas
Social Responsibilities: Role of Govt, Communities and Families.
Senior Citizens as a resource rather than a burden.
The elders had to be self disiplined and follow all instructions and precautions. The family members have to tune themselves to the need of the elders after assessing their requirements. Financial planning has to be second nature. With the number of senior citizens being nearly 9-10 crores, the Government at the centre and states have to give sufficient priority to their problems and utilisation.
The Housing Board had issued notices to the residents of E/6 and E/7 demanding lease rent at a rate that was over 200 times the rate that was charged as per existing 30 year lease agreement. They had also asked for arrears based on this rate from the beginning with penalty and 10% handling charge. It may be noted that the lease rent increase in respct of E/1 to E/5 is approximately 6 times. The residents through Senior Citizens Forum had submitted an appeal against the order to the Arbitration Tribunal of Housing and Environment Department.
The tribunal while accepting the appeal, by there order No. F 19-51/2008/32-1 dated 1 Sep 09 has found the order against natural logic and not as per legal provisions. Hence it has cancelled the said order. The housing Board has been asked to reexamine the matter as per legal provisions and issue freash orders.
BHOPAL Corporation elections conducted. First election after 50% reservation for
women. Smt Krishna Gaur of the BJP was elected as the Mayor. Congress
has the majority in the corporators council.
NEW Master Plan for Bhopal circulated. Many objections raised by citizens, NGOs
and political parties. Revised plan is awaited.
A free medical camp was held on 15th October at the Day Care Centre. Dr Yasikar, Dr H H Trivedi and many other doctors attended to the patients. Free medicines were
supplied . Free ECG and Blood Tests also conducted.
Special Report : Controversy about Jinnah as secular (see Home Page)
Aging World ( See Home Page)
New Income Tax Code - a brief preview in Concessions Page
The ATM was formally opened by S K Saraswat, President Sr Ci Forum on 12th July 2009.
SENIOR CITIZENS FORUM
On 11th may 2009, Senior Citizens Forum ceremoniously accepted the
Ambulance donated by Rotary Club International. District Governor of 3040
District Shri Billore performed the puja along with our President, Shri Saraswat.
He then handed over the KEYs to our President. District President Shri Singh and other rotarians attended the function. A large number of our members were present. This
Ambulance would be used to attend to cancer patients at their residences. It will also be used by sick senior citizens to get treatment in Hospitals. For this thay will be suitably charged to provide funds for the maintenance of the Ambulance. Details od this would be published in our web site and also in the local Media.
A special committee headed by Dr H H Trivedi, our distinguished member, is drafting rules and charges for using the ambulance
( A B Mehta)
The latest report on Aging issued by the National Institute of
Aging on 20 July 2009 indicates that the average age of the world's population
is increasing at an unprecedented rate. The number of senior citizens
worldwide (age 65 and older) has already crossed 50Crores. By 2040, that
number will hit 130Crores. Thus, in just over 30 years, the proportion
of older people will double from 7 percent to 14 percent of the total
world population.
The most rapid increases in the older population are in the developing
world. By 2040, developing countries like India are likely to be home
to more than 100Crore people aged 65 and over, 76 percent of the projected
world total. Within 10 years, for the first time in human history there
will be more people aged 65 and older than children under 5 in the world.
The 65-and-older population in China and India alone that numbered 16Crores
in 2008, nearly one-third of the world's total will be accentuated in
the coming decades as the absolute number climbs to 55Crores in 2040 (33
in China and 22 in India).
Older people, particularly in developing countries, still make substantial
contributions to family well being through such activities as household
maintenance and grandchild care. But off late many of them have to live
alone and that also without sufficient financial security. Even the well
to do and highly educated and experienced senior citizens find themselves
treated more as a burden to the society. Very few among them voluntarily
keep themselves busy in social service or developing a hobby or business
they always wanted to do in their adult life but could not do. Hardly
any avenues exist for using this vast resource in some way either by the
state or central governments.
There have been some initiatives like Prevention of cruelty to parents
Act, Old age pension, facility for mortgaging of house to get extra income
by seniors, travel concessions etc but very few are fully aware of them
and still fewer have any experience about the difficulties involved in
taking advantage of them.
These numbers indicated in "An Aging World: 2008" should be treated like
a 'Wake up Call' by the governments at the Centre as well as in states.
There is a need for a statutory body to approve long-term plans, suggest
legislations, attend to serious complaints and keep a watch on timely
actions by authorities in public and private sectors.
(Published in Central Chronicle 24 Jul)
A seminar was held on 19th July under the aegis of Senior Citizens Forum, Bhopal to examine the status of the projects related to the lakes of Bhopal, its shortcomings and the active involvement of the citizens in future action plans. Shri K S Sharma, retired Chief Secretary, presided.
Dr Singh of EPCO provided the status of the Bhoj Wetland project indicating that Lake Conservation Authority is responsible for ensuring that adequate water from catchments areas, prohibition of sewage input, desilting and filtering activities are efficiently performed. Shri Raghuvanshi of Bhopal Municipal Corporation provided details of the sewage treatment, interconnectivity and filtering activities that form part of BMC's responsibility
Most of the participants were critical of the delays in completing projects, improper design, wastage of funds, inaction on conservation of the lakes, leakages, corruption and involvement of many agencies without defining their accountability in the project implementation. They also said that while media did expose many such acts it did not follow up to put pressure on the agencies. The usage of the water of the lakes also has to be regulated, as the monsoon is unpredictable.
Shri K S Sharma supported the need for an independent statutory agency to oversee the project, find the shortcomings and act against the defaulters. In the mean while he appealed to the citizens to keep a watch while cooperating in doing their part and media to give publicity to the citizens' complaints to put pressure on the political class and bureaucracy. It should not happen that after spending thousands of crores we are worse than in 1995 when the project was taken up, as happened in the case of Ganga-Yamuna cleaning project.
A B Mehta thanked the participants and invited young crusaders to join the senior citizens in taking up such issues for conservation of our environment
A short report on the recommendations made by the panelists
during a discussion session on what senior citizens should be aware
of during and after a terrorist attack is given below.
"Senior Citizens Forum arranged a seminar to define how common citizens
can be guided and given the responsibilities with necessary support
to face future terror attacks in a positive manner. Shri O N Shrivastava,
retired Governor of Nagaland and Meghalaya, presided. Other panelists
were Justice Shukla, Shri H M Joshi, Shri K S Dhillon, Shri K S Sharma
and Smt Shakuntala Sharma. Shri S K Raut, DGP, MP also attended. Gp
Capt A B Mehta gave the background for the seminar to make citizens
better prepared for facing such attacks and behaving correctly during
and after such attacks.
Shri Shrivastava, in his keynote address said that illiteracy; indoctrination
and direct intervention of religion in the government process in the
neighbourhood have provided encouragement to terror attacks in our country.
He suggested that Senior Citizens should visit the Police Stations near
their residences and interact with not only the SHO and their respective
Beat Constables to become involved in self-policing and reporting.
Justice Shukla suggested education about all religions in the schools,
combined celebrations of festivals of all religions, stringent punishment
for damage to properties in agitations, Bandhs to be made illegal and
NCC to be made compulsory.
Shri Dhillon warned against not solving problems in time created by
discrimination based on religion, caste, language etc. He called for
depoliticisation of the Police to improve their response to the needs
of the common people.
Shri H M Joshi said that only after USA suffered terror attack that
the problem was given importance.
Shri K S Sharma said that as long as VIP syndrome and pressure groups
of the parties in power remain, ordinary citizens couldn’t expect
equal treatment in the eyes of law.
Smt Sharma highlighted the need for defining specific response by authorities
to the inputs from the people for it to be worth the trouble.
Shri Raut briefed the participants about the arrangements and plans
of the Department in improved prevention and handling of such attacks.
He advised the citizens to report suspicious happenings like young residents
spending large sums of money and indulging in unusual night movements
in the neighbourhood. He stressed upon the senior citizens to help in
shaping the public policies that strengthen the response of the Police
personnel at all levels.
Shri Saraswat, President of the forum offered the voluntary services
of the senior citizens in helping the Police in making the general public
aware of their rights and responsibilities."
Gp Capt A B Mehta,
Vice President, Senior Citizens Forum,
BHOPAL
Dr Shanker Lal Patidar, eminent orthopaedic specialist has chosen Senior Citizens Forum to set up full fledged facility to provide Physiotherapy treatment to patients, particularly elders and members of weaker sections of society. Shri Babulal Gaur, Ex-Chief MInister and currently a senior Minister of M P Cabinet, inaugurated the facility in the presence of our members on 24th December.
The Senior Citizens Forum has come out with a Quarterly Journal "GREY HAIR" to propogate the Forum activities and provide useful information to members as well as other senior citizens. The Journal would also have articles by both members as well as non-members on important topics. We have priced the Journal at Rs 15 with an yearly subscription of Rs 50. This would partly meet the expences. Subscription may be sent by MO or given personally to Gp Capt A B Mehta, Vice President at MIG-282, E/7, Bhopal (462016). Enquiries for multiple copies can be sent through e-mail at abmehtabhopal@indiatimes.com. We have currently 125 subscribers.
The First Issue is already distributed and sent to the Registrar General of India for appropriate registration action.
Executive Committee decided in its meeting to take up important social issues by requesting membership in Government committees, apart from taking initiatives in arranging Rallies and seminars.
A CORPUS is to be created to fund forum's monthly expenses. All members are requested to contribute Rs 1000 per annum. Donations from other well wishers is welcome. Send your cheques to Gp Capt A B Mehta, Vice President of the Forum at MIG-282, E/7 BHOPAL 462016 or at the Day are address.
Senior Citizens Forum, whose mission is to involve the members in socially relevant projects, took note of the shortage of organs for treating patients and the extent to which unscrupulous elements took advantage of it to cheat people. Consequently we conducted on 10th February 2008 an organ and Body Donation Camp with the support of Dr S L Patidar and his staff. 36 persons offered to donate organs/full body and completed the required formalities. Shri Babulal Gaur, Ex-Chief Minister and current Urban Development Minister was the chief guest who honoured each volunteer for their praiseworthy decision.
A second camp was held on 23rd March. In this camp 41 more psersons came forward. An important aspect was the predominance of women in this.
We have approached the Union Health Minister and the Chief Minister of MP to make efficient arrangement for setting up of 'ORGAN BANKS' so that the donated organs become available to the needy in proper condition and without delay.
In our ongoing Body/Organ donation programme we are collecting 'sankalp patra' and register for organ/body and Eye donation every day between 1100hrs to 1200hrs . Already over 200 have completed the formalities.
Our programme has been brought to the notice of the Ministry of Health
and social welfare, Government of India by the good offices of the Governor
who showed great interest in it and even volunteered to give away the
declaration forms to the Dean of Gandhi Medical College Bhopal.
Senior Citizens Forum held a Press Conference to highlight the inadequacies of the Central Act recently passed by Lok Sabha in connection with the Maintenance of Parents and Senior Citizens Welfare. Given below are our comments:
Maintenance of Parents Act
( Press Note from Sr Cit Forum)
- While the bill talks of welfare of senior citizens in general, it primarily refers to the maintenance of parents by their children
- It refers repeatedly to the property likely to be inherited by the children and consequent responsibility to look after the parents.
- It does not address the problems of those parents/senior citizens who may not have significant property to pass on to the children.
- Even for those who have adequate property and are still neglected by the children, the procedure prescribed to submit, investigate and finally take remedial action on their complaints is likely to be time-consuming, costly and prone to corruption.
- The functioning of even existing old age homes leaves a lot to be desired. This can be observed through any unannounced visit to them.
- Senior citizens, by and large, want emotional support that can be provided only by their family members. Day Care Centres, if properly organised and supported, can partly address this need by providing the company of friends of similar age-group and background during daytime when the children are busy with their own routine.
- The benefits of such provisions seldom reach needy persons in both rural and urban areas. Since many amongst them are women and handicapped the implementation has to be oriented towards speedy justice through simple rules ensuring that unscrupulous elements do not take advantage of their helplessness and simplicity.
We strongly feel that there is an urgent need to set up a Commission of Senior Citizens at the center with powers similar to the Human Rights and other such commissions. These can be also be set up in larger states. They can address wide-ranging problems of the senior citizens whose number is already over 80 million in our country, majority of them in villages and again largely females. They can have adequate support staff in the form of investigating officers and quickly dispose off the cases as the appeal could be only at the High Court level.
Simultaneously the Government must consider how to utilize the services of this large 'work force' who may be beyond 60 but can still do tasks that require unbiased, fair and fast action in the interest of the society. Let us recognize that they are not a burden to the society (and their children) as it is usually highlighted.
Monday to Friday:
0800 Hrs Yoga Training
Alternate Sundays:
1000 Hrs on alternate weeks :Lecture Series
Our Associate Chinmayanand Mission holds regular lectures and devotional programmes in our premises. The dates, time, and subject are displayed on the Day Care Centre Notice Board for the benefit of members as well as nonmembers interested to take part in these programmes.