GUWAHATI, June 28 � The State would announce its policy for senior citizens in line with the national policy very soon. This was assured by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to the Assam Senior Citizens Association that has long been fighting for the rights of elderly citizens.
Gogoi who was talking to a delegation of the Assam Senior Citizens Association on Monday at his residence also said that necessary rules have been framed in respect of the maintenance of parents and welfare of senior citizens and would be enforced shortly.
The delegation which included general secretary DN Chakravartty and other office-bearers including Prafulla Chandra Barooah and Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, placed before the Chief Minister a nine-point charter of demands for consideration of the Government of Assam.
The Chief Minister agreed to raise the quantum of the monthly pension of the senior citizens belonging to the below poverty line which will benefit over five lakh elderly citizens of the State.
The delegation also requested the Chief Minister to provide medical benefit to the elderly citizens by way of providing concession in respect of purchase of medicines and physical examinations in pathological laboratories as has been allowed by the Government of West Bengal.
The Chief Minister agreed to the suggestion for opening of geriatric departments in the medical colleges and geriatric wards in the district and other hospitals of the State. He was also requested to recognize officially the identity card for elderly persons issued by the Assam Senior Citizens Association as a valid document.
The delegation requested Gogoi to provide either an office building or a plot of land to accommodate the office premises of the association.
On the other hand, Gogoi said that with the longevity of the general people showing phenomenal improvement during the recent decades, it would be the primary duty of the government of a welfare State to provide amenities to the elderly section of the society.
The delegation requested the Chief Minister to attend the State level function of the Assam Senior Citizens Association on the occasion of the World Elders Day on October 1 at Moran.
