Senior citizens from Canacona who are over 75 years have demanded 50% bus ticket concession in private buses and special privileges of health care at the local Community Health Centre.
Stating the some senior citizens in the taluka are harassed by the younger generation at home, social activist and senior citizen Natividade de Sa demanded that governments should intervene to ease the troubles of senior citizens in their ripe old age.
De Sa has submitted a letter to the Deputy Collector of Canacona to grant him permission to sit for a dharna on April 24, near Mamlatdar’s office, Chaudi, to highlight his grievance of his land at Palolem, which was grabbed by unfair means. Natividade expressed his desire to donate this land behind old Syndicate Bank at Palolem for senior citizens of Canacona, once it is freed from the possession of alleged land-grabber.
De Sa informed Herald that a number of senior citizens do not get much needed love and affection in their homes and are virtually discarded by the younger generation. Government has to step-in to stop cruelty to old people.
Although private buses display seats for senior citizens, they are not getting any ticket concessions for their travelling in private buses.
“We demand that government should extend 50% bus ticket concession to at least senior citizens above 75 years of age, who travel in private buses. Besides, when senior citizens visit government hospital in the taluka (CHC), do not get proper attention and are ignored. This should stop,” he said.
De Sa also demanded a 24-hour pharmacy in the taluka, and do away with the need to obtain ‘Life-Certificate’ for continuation of DSS scheme for which they have to travel all the way to the MLAs office at Chaudi.
