Minister pledges action as seniors call for pension hike, grants

PWD Minister Digambar Kamat and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai at the programme organised by the All Goa Senior Citizens Federation on World Elders Day.

MARGAO
On World Elders Day, the All Goa Senior Citizens Federation made an impassioned plea to the Goa government to effect a hike in the pension for senior citizens and provide grants for organisations working for the welfare of senior citizens.
PWD Minister Digambar Kamat promised to take the lead in resolving the issues plaguing senior citizens. He exuded confidence that the Goa government would ensure a decent living for senior citizens in the state.
At a programme organised at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, Federation President J N do Rosario Colaco acknowledged that Goa was the first state in the country to introduce a pension scheme for senior citizens. “While we acknowledge the government’s initiative in providing Rs 2,000 as a monthly pension, there’s a need to hike the pension in view of inflation. We hope the government will consider our request,” Colaco said.
He also requested the government to provide monetary grants to organisations working for the welfare of senior citizens. Besides, he underscored the need to hike the payments to the workers manning the UMMID day care centres.
In his address, the PWD Minister said that he would be at the forefront in resolving issues affecting elders. “I am also a senior citizen. I can accompany a delegation of senior citizens to anyone to raise issues affecting them. I have been closely associated with the Federation of Senior Citizens. Given my status as a Minister, I can now assert with the issues facing the people. In the past, I could not assert myself to do something,” he added.
In his address, Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai stressed the need for senior citizens to unite and collectively take up their grievances with the government. “With senior citizens comprising 11.5 per cent of the population, it is high time they exert pressure on the government of the day to come out with policies for their welfare,” he said.
He added, “When we come across organisations bargaining for reservations and other benefits, senior citizens have to think as a vote bank. The government will be bound to deliver, given that senior citizens make up 11.5 per cent of the population,” he added.
“The World Elders Day offers an opportunity for the government to recognise the contributions made by senior citizens to society and create policies for their welfare,” he added.