Senior citizens clinched better deal in union budget

Persistent efforts by Jaipurbased Social Security Foundation (SSF), a registered public charitable society serving senior citizens above the age of 60 has helped them get a good deal in the Union budget in which several tax concessions and benefits have been announced by the Finance Minister.

SSF Secretary General Triloki Das Khandelwal said their organisation has been trying to pursue the government that senior citizens should be given more consideration and the Union government should provide senior citizens the rights through legislature and an enactment of law by the parliament He said the Union Government has shown human concern by reducing senior citizens' age qualification from 65 years to 60 years and by announcing a new category of very senior citizens above the age of 80 years.

Khandelwal said the SSF has been lobbying with the Union Government to reduce the qualification for senior citizens and also give them the tax benefits. The SSF had made representations to the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister to care for the elderly people particularly the old, sick and the " daridranarayans." Khandelwal said the tax exemption raised to Rs 2.50 lakh from Rs 2.40 lakh would help millions of old people in the twilight of their lives.

Khandelwal said the announcement of a new category of senior citizens above the age of 80 and tax exemptions of Rs five lakh for these very senior citizens would help them financially at an age when they are unable to work for a livelihood.

Khandelwal said the budget announcement under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme for below poverty line (BPL) beneficiaries and the reduction of age eligibility for this benefit from 65 years to 60 was also praiseworthy.

While praising the budget announcement of raising the pension amount from Rs 200 to Rs 500 per month for those above 80 years of age and above, Khandelwal said the Union Government should reconsider its decision and raise all the old age pension to all categories of senior citizens.

Khandelwal said the SSF has been advocating for this benefits in rail travel which has been granted by the railway minister.