GUWAHATI, July 5 � Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that although the Assam Government had not declared a comprehensive State policy for elderly persons, yet in pursuance of the National Policy for Elderly Persons, his government had constituted the State Council for Elderly Persons and had extended pension benefits to the elderly people belonging to the BPL category.
The Chief Minister who was replying to the memorandum submitted to him by a delegation of the Assam Senior Citizens� Association (ASCA) also said that the State Government had already constituted tribunals in the districts and the subdivisions for receiving complaints of ill treatment of parents by their children and immediate successors, and the tribunals had now been functioning in their respective areas.
The delegation led by Tabiul Hussain, president, ASCA, included its general secretary Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and organizing secretary Baneswar Khound.
The delegation urged the Chief Minister to set up a separate directorate to deal all matters concerning the welfare of the 25 lakh elderly citizens of the State.
The delegation also requested the Chief Minister to take steps for opening geriatric wards in all district and sub-divisional hospitals in the State.
The delegation thanked the Chief Minister for providing concessions in the State Transport bus fares for the elderly.
