Punjab govt to set up state senior citizens council

MOHALI : The Punjab Government would soon setup a State Senior Citizens Council to ensure social security and safeguard the rights of elderly persons to enable them to lead a life with self respect and dignity.

Addressing a mammoth gathering of senior citizens at the launch of Federation of Senior Citizens Association (FEDSEN)-Punjab here, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said that the Council would also guide the state government to prepare a comprehensive policy for the welfare of senior citizens, which was the most respectable section amongst the society. He also agreed to the proposal of the federation to depute a senior police officer of Inspector General (IG) as a nodal officer at the state level to look into the issues of senior citizens especially related to their safety and personal security. Likewise DIGs would be deputed in their respective ranges and SP level officers in the districts as nodal officers to ensure personal security of the older persons.

The Chief Minister further said that Punjab was amongst few states to adopt the maintenance of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 to ensure social security to the senior citizens who had been neglected by their children in the old age. He said the rules under this act would be notified shortly and reiterated that the act would be enforced strictly.

Referring to the issue of timely payment of old age pensions, the Chief Minister said that the Punjab Government would soon create a dedicated fund of Rs. 500 crore to enable the old age beneficiaries to get pension in time. He also said that the state government was in the process to tie-up with the nationalized banks for the disbursement of old age pension at their door-steps.

He also announced that senior citizens would be given due representation in the district committees constituted for the implementation of various development projects and welfare schemes. Apart from this he also announced to set-up a day care home for senior citizens in sector-68 and an old age home would also be established over a two acre plot already allotted by GAMADA in Mohali. Badal also said that the he would soon convene a meeting with representatives of the FEDSEN to chalk a strategy to further stream line the welfare schemes for Senior Citizens. He also called upon the senior citizens based in urban area to come forward for social service especially in rural areas in the field of education, health and sanitation as they had a rich and vast experience, from which the society could be immensely benefited. Mr. Badal also mentioned that he had already setup a state-of-the-art old Age Home at his native village Badal and invited the FEDSEN to hold its next meeting there.

On the occasion Badal unveiled the logo of FEDSEN and released its maiden souvenir dedicated to its founder chairman of Punjab State Senior Citizens Association and former Chief Secretary Punjab late Mr. P.S. Vaishnav IAS (Retd.). The Chief Minister also announced a grant of Rs. 10 lac for the FEDSEN.

Earlier in his welcome address Executive President of FEDSEN D.S. Grewal briefly outlined the achievements of FEDSEN and said over 500 members from 17 associations of 15 districts had joined the federation and soon the remaining districts would also come under its fold.

Before the start of the function, all the senior citizens along with Badal and other dignitaries observed a two minute silence as befitting tributes to the martyrs and heroes of Indian Freedom Struggle.

In his address President and former Vice Chancellor of PAU Ludhiana President Dr. Amarjit Singh Khehra raised the demands of FEDSEN and assured the Chief Minister on behalf of senior Citizens of full support and cooperation to the state in the implementation of various development policies and welfare programmes.

Prominent among other who were present on the occasion SAD General Secretary S. Balwinder Singh Bhundar, Advisor to Chief Minister Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, Chairman District Planning Committee Mr. N.K. Sharma, General Secretary FEDSEN Mr. Harnam Singh, Working member SAD Jathedar Amrik Singh, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. K.J.S. Cheema, DIG Mr. S.K. Asthana, Deputy Commissioner S.A.S. Nagar Mr. P.S. Mand and SSP Mr. Gurpreet Singh Bhullar.
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