the goan I network
MAPUSA
Lack of recreation facilities, unfavourable DDSSY health scheme for senior citizens as elderly illnesses like cataract operation, glaucoma, knee replacement were not covered, lack of preferential treatment in government offices, hospitals, etc, were some of the problems raised by senior citizens at a meeting initiated by Aam Aadmi Party in Mapusa.
In an attempt to map grievances of senior citizens in the State, AAP Goa has begun a series of meetings to engage with the elderly in the State.
"These dialogues are aimed at understanding the issues faced by the elderly population in the State and their long-pending demands," said Shraddha Khalap, AAP's Goa convener.
The party plans to hold more such dialogues in Santa Cruz, Poriem, Siolim and Pernem. AAP will also hold a meeting for women in North Goa in Mapusa on September 23.
The AAP convenor said through the dialogues held so far it was found that besides lack of various facilities the elderly population face in the State, there was no proper implementation of the provisions of the Senior Citizens Act 2007.
Apart from the affected population, AAP has decided to extend the dialogues to key stakeholders like private organisations in the care of aged, mental health practitioners, mapping conditions of state run homes for the aged, etc.
After gathering inputs from the dialogues, AAP plans to formulate a charter of demands arising out of the concerns of the aged population, which will be submitted to the government on the World Elders Day (October 1).
