S E N I O R S P E A K
Dignity Foundation, BMC School Building, Topiwala Lane, Opp. Lamington Road Police Station, Mumbai 400 007. India.
Telephone: 23898079 / 23841845 / 23814356 · Fax: 23898082 · Email: info@dignityfoundation.com
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Congratulations!
At the outset, my wife Sheroo and I would like to congratulate you and your full team along with the volunteers on the very successful conduction of the Annual Award and the launch of the Senior Citizens Newspaper, Voice of Dignity on the World Elders Day function. We were very impressed by the dedication of all involved in improving the quality of life of Senior Citizens by attending to their varied needs. May the Good Lord give all of you a long life, happiness and lots of strength to continue the fabulous work you are doing through Dignity Foundation!
The Autumnal Aerobics, the Suraksha Bandhan and the 'Harmonium Rediscovered' by Dr Vidyadhar Oke and his troup were just fantastically entertaining and refreshing. Even the address by the chief guest, Narayan Vaghul, was very enlightening.
Madam, I have one request. The awards ceremony should be a little shorter and better co-coordinated. If the people who have to receive the awards can be first checked for their presence at the venue, arranged in chronological order in which they will be called, and kept ready in sequential rows, it would be faster and I am sure it would also be more convenient and easy for the volunteers as well as the awardees.
Please accept our heartfelt good wishes and also convey the same to your fantastic team and wonderful volunteers.
Aspi A Davierwalla, Mumbai
Editor's Note:
We have noted your excellent suggestion. While we are also aware that it is a time consuming activity, what is of paramount importance to us the sense of self esteem it will bestow on the recipient for the services rendered by him and greatly appreciated by Dignity Foundation on behalf of senior citizens of the country!
Thoughtful inclusion
I was glad to receive an invitation card for this year's world elders' day celebrations. These gestures make us feel as if we really belong to a family called Dignity Foundation. We do feel the lack when for a long time, there is no communication between your authorities and ourselves. I was pleased to see that our Hon'ble Deputy Chief Minister and the Minister for Home Chhagan Bhujbal and the Sheriff Kiran Shantaram were present at the function and briefed on our pressing needs.
A.G.Shaik, Mumbai
Food for old age inmates
I have the pleasure of introducing myself as one of the readers of your valuable magazine. I am a resident of Kottur Gardens in Chennai where your subscriber resides. She has written for your pages under "Musings." Your magazine is popular at Vishranthi old age home for destitute women at Palavakkam, Chennai. This home is run by the members of the Monday Charity Club. As a past committee member, I have been visiting old age homes (paid and unpaid) interviewing men and women and discussing their problems. Your magazine is appreciated for giving a voice to many who are unheard otherwise.
Mala Mukundan, Chennai
Appeal to Civil Aviation Ministry
We sent a letter to the Union Minister for Civil Aviation. Here's a copy of the same.
6th September 2003
Mr. Shahnawaz Hussein
Union Minister for Civil Aviation
Government of India, Ministry of Civil aviation
Lalbahadur Shastri Marg
NEW DELHI
Dear Sir,
The Women Graduates Union's Consumer & Civic Affairs committee, objects to unreasonable conditions for IA Travel of Senior Citizens such as:
1. One-way journey not permitted;
2. Minimum seven days stay at destination;
3. Confirmed ticket purchased at least 7 days before departure.
The conditions, especially the one related to minimum seven days at destination, make the revised scheme unpractical WGU added. The revised scheme in effect will be available for leisure travelers which, WGU pointed out, must not have been the objective while the scheme was framed for the senior citizens. The revised scheme will not also cover exigencies as medical needs, death of a family member/relatives which may require senior citizens to travel for a shorter period or at short notice, the representation.
Women Graduates Union regretted that when the Central Government has been consistently following a policy for the welfare of citizens, the imposition of such terms and conditions is a retrograde step. Such terms and conditions are also in consonance with the scheme of discount followed by Government undertakings like the railways.
WGU urges the Minister on behalf of the country's citizens to reconsider their problems and order to withdraw these terms and conditions so that all senior citizens can avail themselves of the benefit of the discount in its true spirit.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs.Kunda Nadkar
President, Women Graduates Union
Mrs. Swarn Kohli
Chairperson, Consumer and Civic Affairs Committee, Women Graduates Union
Women Graduates Union, Mumbai
Adopt a grandparent for your child
I am very sorry to learn that the behaviour of some senior citizens demoralises your young team at times. Please assure your team that for every such senior citizen who causes you anguish, there are hundreds of us who consider you angels of mercy and pray for your well-being and prosperity.
Age is not the only factor that makes us crotchety. We are so sad and lonely that our impaired vision and loss of hearing irritates the ones whom we brought up with loving care. Our inability to satisfy monetary expectations provokes division and contempt. What could be more painful than to feel unwanted by our own offsprings. How can they forget that we, "gave our yesterday for their today." These are bitter and hard realities.
I know it sounds fantastic or perhaps absurd, but I wish that as childless couples adopt children, working couples should adopt an elderly male or female so that their children can have surrogate grand parents and are not left to the mercy of servants. There may be many who would function without any remuneration if only we got consideration, a kind word and a little sympathy even from strangers who would not deride us for lapses of memory and say we are pretending.
I fully realise that there are constraints which prevent Dignity Foundation from being more proactive. All I can do is to pray to the Allmighty to grant you greater strength, courage and patience to carry on with your noble endeavour.
May God bless you and your team of volunteers.
S. Madgaonkar, Pune
The Last Word on Longevity
The First Word of the month of January 2004 issue of the magazine regarding longevity was really worthwhile reading. I read it twice with heart. I also desire to live up to the age of 100 or more, but only if God wishes. Without His will, nothing can happen. God also helps those who help themselves.I am also sure that God will not go against my wishes.
H.P.Nathan, Ghatkopar
Grandparents Day at Fatima
I would like to bring to you notice that the first grandparents' day was gaily celebrated at Fatima High School garden complex at Vidya Vihar, Ghatkopar in Mumbai on Saturday January 25, 2004. The celebration commenced with a welcome song by pre-KG students. A large gathering of grandparents, young parents, grandchildren, students, teachers and staff packed the open air Fatima grounds.
The brief exciting and selected songs, dances and music brought back the past memories for grandparents. Fr. Philip Gonsalves, Principal, Fr.Prakash Tuscano, Vice Principal, and Fr. Benjamin talked about model parenting and grandparenting. ho they presented before people a model of ideal parents and grandparents. The programme was highly appreciated by the grandparents and everybody else. The evening programme concluded with the national anthem, a get-together and a vegetarian dinner.
Wilfred Pereira, Mumbai
Will BSNL please go the MTNL way?
The elders of today are the founders of the world we have inherited and are living in. In their moment of need, it becomes our religious duty to help them live noble and honorable lives. By and large, in sync with our age-old perceptions, culture and civilisation, our elders generally do not demand or beg even from their children, in times of financial needs. However they may accept any such sums given by children to them, only if the same is given gladly, with grace and respect.
Our own government should realise that senior citizens of this country ought to be respected and looked after well and that they should voluntarily and with grace, accord concessions in different services to them.
MTNL has gracefully allowed senior citizens to avail concessions of 25% in rental tariff rates for one telephone belonging to any senior citizen above the age of 65. I myself have applied for the concession. The Performa form is available at Quick Customer Service Centre in all MTNL exchange offices. It is to the credit of MTNL that they are giving this concession to senior citizens without making them follow a cumbersome procedure. In fact they give this concession gladly and with grace.
But MTNL generally has its wings spread only in metropolitan cities. Bharatiya Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) which is spread throughout the country has still to make up its mind about granting such relief. Many requests on behalf of different senior citizens' organisations have been sent to BSNL authorities, but BSNL is not relenting. BSNL and MTNL to my mind are both governed by the TRAI act and yet there is such disparity in grant of concession between them.
It is hoped that the minister of telecommunications will immediately intervene and take interest in the matter and initiate steps to direct BSNL to gracefully allow concessions of 25% in rental tariff of one telephone belonging to a senior citizen. This would enable all the senior citizens of this country to avail of this concession, which is otherwise exclusively enjoyed by subscribers of MTNL phones.
When our Finance Minister can propose Dada-Dadi Bonds with higher returns especially for senior citizens, then why should BSNL lag behind? Hope better sense will prevail with the powers-that-be.
Basant Otwani, Mumbai
Forum Slaps Rs 3,46,349 Compensation on Insurance Co.
Vipin Pujara, with his family, was going in his car on a pilgrimage. When the car was passing through Satna area in Madhya Pradesh, robbers stopped his car and took away all his belongings including cash, jewellery and the car. The registration book and insurance policy of the car were also taken away by the robbers. The incident was reported in local newspapers on 7 December 1998. Pujara informed the New India Assurance Co office in Satna of the matter.
Pujara pursued the matter with the New India Assurance Company and claimed insurance. The insurance co informed Pujara that his car was recovered by Kothi police station, Satna. The car was recorded as a stolen property by Madhya Pradesh police on 14 July 2000. Vinod Shukla, a friend of Pujara took possession of the car on a Rs 5 lakh bond.
As advised by New India Assurance company, the car was taken to Aden Auto Centre, Mumbai on 29 July 2000. Aden Auto sent a statement of expenses to Pujara for Rs 74,349 on 27 January 2001. As many as six surveyers were appointed one by one by the insurance company to inspect and evaluate the vehicle, which was further prolonging the matter. Finally the insurance company advised Pujara to remove the vehicle from the auto centre on 2 March 2001. Aden Auto Centre slapped another bill of Rs 20,000 on Pujara as parking charges as the vehicle was lying in the garage for 214 days.
Pujara appointed M/s B N Mehta to fix the salvage value or value of the rescued car. M/s B N Mehta valued the salvage at Rs 60,000. Pujara found a buyer for his car and sold it for Rs 65,000. The insurance company offered to settle his claim at Rs 93,650.
Pujara sent a legal notice to the insurance company on 2 July 2002. The insured value of the car was Rs 3,08,000. Aden Auto charged a sum of Rs 94,349 as repairing and parking charges from Pujara. And thus, Pujara claimed an amount of Rs 4,02,349. After deducting Rs 65,000 (the sale value of his car), Pujara finally claimed Rs 3,37,349.
Consumer Education and Research Society (CERS), Ahmedabad and Vipin Pujara started legal proceedings in the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum in Ahmedabad city. The insurance company appeared before the Forum and asked for time to submit written submission. As the company submitted the written submission after the expiry of stipulated 45 days, the Forum decided the case ex-parte on 16 September 2003 and directed the insurance company to Rs 3,37,349 with 10 % interest from the date of repudiation of the claim from 6 December 1998 till the date of actual payment to Pujara.
The Forum also directed the insurance company to pay Rs 2000 to Pujara as cost and another Rs 2000 as compensation for the mental agony caused to Pujara. The insurance company was further directed to pay Rs 5000 to CERS as cost of the case.
Pritee Shah, Editor, Editor, INSIGHT - The Consumer Magazine, Ahmedabadi
Complaint against Skyline NEPC Ltd.
I think the SEBI cannot disown its moral responsiblities by debarring the acquirers and their group company from assessing the capital market for a period of five years. We, gullible investors, tendered our shares because of SEBI clearance of the offer, hence the SEBI is legally and morally under obligation to pay us consideration out of the huge funds SEBI maintains by way of charging fees and deposit which SEBI collects from acquirers and others. Otherwise, if SEBI tries to encourage this type of activities, it will not only completely shake the investor confidence in SEBI, but it will also have adverse implications and the very purpose of SEBI clearance will be of no value.
As regards SEBI launching of prosecution proceedings pending in court, we feel that it is already about a couple of years and unless SEBI takes it seriously, it will never end and just go on. Actually the SEBI should issue public notification in all newspapers informing SEBI debarring the acquirers and group company as well as intimate all government authorities/banks/state governments not to deal with this company who have cheated investors, only then something will come out. Hope SEBI will not take this casually now; if the company is pressurised and strong steps initiated, the acquirer will have no choice but to submit to SEBI and comply with its order.
Hiradevi Choudhary, Kolkata
Interesting And Useful Articles
I must say that I was simply fascinated by the article on health called 'Prevent Osteoporosis.' The exercise mentioned in the article are helping me a lot to combat my vertigo problem that I have for the last eight years.
Equally interesting were many articles in the past issues like 'Amplified Physical Exercises', 'Three Commandments' and '99 Steps to Live 100.'
I am happy to note about the start of a Lions-Juhu Dignity Enrichment Centre which I am unable to join due to my immobility. (I have crosses 91 years last November) But I wish this joyful community all success. I thank and wish you well in all the enterprises you are gradually introducing from time to time for the welfare of senior citizens.
T.M. Fonseca, Mumbai
Today expenses being high, sons find it difficult to make ends meet, and so take recourse to throwing out or neglecting their parents when they age.
The government isn't helping anyone. On the contrary, policies adopted by the government are detrimental to senior citizens. In old age, senior citizens take their retirement funds and deposit them in bank fixed deposits (FDs). The BJP government has kept on reducing the interest rates to help industrialists who support the party. The middle class has been conveniently neglected. The government cuts interest rates on one end and what is earned is reduced by TDS at the other. So what remains to meet one's needs?
They speak of inflation going down. What is the basis for such claims? When you go to the market, you find that the prices of foodstuffs, vegetables and other daily necessities are increasing by the day. So what is the fate of senior citizens? Where do they go? There is no social security, but the government follows the example of America where interest rates are low, but there they have social security.
Dignity Foundation and other such foundations should demand social security for senior citizens. An income of Rs 5,000 a month is barely enough to live decently. Don't organise charities. Please work on income amelioration of senior citizens.
J.Rodrigues, Mumbai
Articles worth preserving
As a brand new entrant, I went through the interesting and informative magazine, Dignity Dialogue. I was particularly interested in the article, 'Preserving the aging eye.' I am a strict vegetarian with clean habits. My opthalmogist told me that I am likely to get cataract within a couple of years. I would like more information on the do's and don'ts of vegetables/cereals/greens, etc. which will help me to control the cataract.
I find every article in the magazine interesting and worth preserving. May God bless you for the excellent service you are rendering to the geriatrics, who are largely uncared for.
G.Sankaran, Chennai
Love and care are necessary, but what senior citizens require most today are funds to meet their needs of food, clothes, shelter and medicines. If they have their own money, their children won't throw them out.
Income: Senior's first need
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