MADURAI: Senior Welfare Movement for Tamil Nadu Nadu – A movement for the care of the elderly, protection, research and advocacy – has urged the state government to form a senior citizen welfare council.
The movement submitted a request to the Minister of Social Welfare and Empowerment of Women P Geetha Jeevan.
The founder and head of the Sankar M movement volunteer said they filed eight demands to the minister, given the increasing population of senior citizens in the state.
“According to the census, there were 75 senior Lakh residents in Tamil Nadu in 2011.
It is expected to multiply to 1.5 crore in 2030,” he said.
Among the main demands are setting a day care center throughout the state at the district level and increasing the monthly old age pensions to Rs 2,000 and ensure that it reaches them at their door without facing difficulties and dependence on others in accepting it.
The movement is also looking for a committee by the government to come out with standards for old houses, building old-age houses not only in cities but also in rural areas, motivating generators and non-governmental organizations involved in recognizing them at the state level with Awards and Rewards Money.
Building a Sustainable Care Center for the Taluk Level for age-related diseases such as amnesia, paralysis and arthritis and free pneumonia vaccination for all people over the age of 60 years is one of their other demands.