THE BENEFITS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS IN INDIA > > > > > >I. Transportation: > >Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: > > > > > > > > > > > > >i) Reservation of two seats for senior citizens in front row of the buses of >the State Road Transport Undertakings. >ii) Some State Governments are giving fare concession to senior citizens in >the State Road Transport Undertaking buses and are introducing Bus Models, >which are convenient to the elderly. > >Under Delhi Transport Corporation: > > >1. Special Hire Service: - Apart from the normal services, the Corporation >also provides buses to the Citizen of Delhi on Special Hire for marriage >parties, picnics, etc. > > >2. Free/Concessional Passes: - DTC also offers Free Passes to disabled >persons, war-widows & their dependents, eminent sport personalities, Freedom >Fighters etc. and Concessional Passes to various categories of commuters viz. >Students, Senior Citizens, Residents of Resettlement Colonies, Journalists, >etc. >For Senior citizens above the age of 60 years, Bus pass for all routes at Rs. >50 per month. Income has to be below Rs. 75000 per year. > >Ministry of Railways: >1. Indian Railways provide 30% concession in all classes and trains >including Rajdhani/Shatabadi trains for both males and females aged 60 years >and above. >2. Indian Railways also have the facility of separate counters for Senior >Citizens for purchase/booking/cancellation of tickets. >3. Wheel Chairs for use of older persons are available at all junctions, >District Headquarters and other important stations for the convenience of >needy persons including the older persons. >4.. Ramps for wheel chairs movement are available at the entry to important >stations. >5. Specially designed coaches with provisions of space for wheel chairs, hand >rail and specially designed toilet for handicapped persons have been >introduced. > > >Ministry of Civil Aviation: > > >1. Indian Airlines is providing 50 per cent Senior Citizen Discount on Normal >Economy Class fare for all domestic flights to Indian senior citizens who have >completed the age of 65 years in the case of male senior citizens and 63 years >in the case of female senior citizens subject to certain conditions. >2. Air India is offering discount of 55% to senior citizens of 60 plus on >flights to USA, UK and Europe on economy class. Further, Air India has now >decided to reduce the age of 60 plus for discount on their domestic routes as >well with immediate effect. For Identity card, 2 passport sized photographs >have to be submitted along with the form. >3. Jetlite offers a discount of 50% on economy class for citizens of 65 years >or above. One passport sized photograph required on the form along with age >proof. >4. Jet Airways offers discount to senior citizens of 65 years or above. >For availing discount in domestic flights, senior citizens have to fill up a >discount form along with a passport sized photograph and Age proof >certificate. Jet Airways also provides Senior Citizen I-Card which is >available in all ticket counters and requires 2 passport sized photographs and >age proof certificate. For the I-Card a very nominal amount is charged. > >II. Telecommunications: > > >i) Faults/complaints of senior citizens are given priority by registering them >under senior citizens category with VIP flag, which is a priority category. >ii) Senior citizens are allowed to register telephone connection under N-OYT >Special Category, which is a priority category. >iii) MTNL in NCR offers a discount of 25% on Rs. 250 per month Plan. Age limit >is 65 years or above. > > >III. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: > > >i) Under the Antyodaya Scheme, the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families which >also include older persons are provided food grains at the rate of 35 kgs. per >family per month. The food grains are issued @ Rs.3/- per kg. for rice and >Rs.2/- per kg. for wheat. The persons aged 60 years above from the BPL >category were given priority for identification. >(ii) Under the Annapoorna Scheme being implemented by the States/UT >Administration, 10 kgs. of food grains per beneficiary per month are provided >free of cost to those senior citizens who remain uncovered under the old age >pension scheme. >iii) Instructions to State Governments for giving priority to the Ration Card >holders who are over 60 years of age in Fair Price Shops for issue of rations. > >IV. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare: >1. Separate queues for elderly persons in hospitals for registration and >clinical examination. >2. Special Clinics, every Sunday between 10 am to 12 noon, for elderly persons >available at the following hospitals in New Delhi. a) Lok Nayak Hospital >b) GTB Hospital >c) Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital >d) Aruna Asafjahan Ali Hospital >e) Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital >f) Dr. Joshi Memorial Hospital >g) Babu Jagjeevan Ram Hospital >h) Ram Rao Tula Memorial Hospital >i) Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital The services include health check-ups, operations, treatment of physically invalid, gynecology, ENT and ophthalmology along with pathological and radio therapy facilities. > >V. Income Tax (Ministry of Finance): >1. For senior citizens the exemption limit is Rs. 2,50,000 up to which senior >citizen pays no income-tax at all. The benefit of higher exemption limit for a >senior citizen is available only when a person has completed 60 years of age. >2. The senior citizen should also take full advantage of section 80C of the >Income Tax Act, 1961 whereby deduction up to Rs. 1.00 lakh is available for >investment by way of insurance premium, repayment of the housing loan or >investment in Senior Citizens Savings Scheme as also the Bank Fixed Deposit. >3. Similarly as also the Bank Fixed Deposit. Similarly, the citizen can also >take advantage of the Mediclaim Policy. In case senior citizen or any member >of his family suffers from serious medical problem of suffers from some >disability he can claim certain other deductions under the tax law. > >VI. MINISTRY OF SOCIAL & EMPLOYEMENT > > >1. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is the nodal Ministry responsible >for welfare of the Senior Citizens. It has announced the National Policy on >Older Persons which seeks to assure older persons that their concerns are >national concerns and they will not live unprotected, ignored and >marginalized. The National Policy aims to strengthen their legitimate place in >the society and to help older people to live the last phase of their life with >purpose, dignity and peace. The National Policy on Older Persons inter alia >visualizes support for financial security, health care and nutrition, shelter, >emphasis upon education, training and information needs, provision of >appropriate concessions, rebates and discounts etc. to Senior Citizens and >special attention to protect and strengthen their legal rights such as to >safeguard their life and property. The National Policy on Older Persons >confers the status of senior citizen to a person who has attained the age of 60 years. > > >2. The Ministry is also implementing following schemes for the benefit of >Senior Citizens: >(a) An Integrated Programme for Older Persons (Plan Scheme) – This Scheme has >been formulated by revising the earlier scheme of “Assistance to Voluntary >Organizations for Programme relating to the Welfare of the Aged”. Under this >Scheme, financial assistance up to 90% of the project cost is provided to NGOs >for establishing and maintaining Old Age Homes, Day Care Centers, Mobile >Medicare Units and to provide non-institutional services to older persons. >(b) The Scheme of Assistance to Panchayati Raj Institutions/ Voluntary >Organizations/Self Help Groups for Construction of Old Age Homes/Multi-Service >Centers for older persons (Non Plan Scheme) - Under this Scheme, one time >construction grant for Old Age Homes/Multi-Service Centre is provided to >non-governmental organizations on the recommendation of the State Governments/ >UT Administrations. > >VII. Ministry of Rural Development: >1. Under the National Old Age Pension Scheme, Central Assistance of Rs. 75/- >p.m. is granted to destitute older persons above 65 years. This Scheme has >been transferred to the State Plan w.e.f. 2002-03. >2. Under the Annapurna Scheme, free food grains (wheat or rice) up to 10 kg. >per month are provided to destitute older persons 65 years or above who are >otherwise eligible for old age pension but are not receiving it. > > >
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