KATHMANDU, MARCH 14
The cavalier attitude towards implementation of the Senior Citizens Act- 2006 has left many senior citizens bereft of their rights and entitlements ensured by the state, claims National Senior Citizens Federation.
Federation president Madandas Shrestha said the government should take initiatives to protect the rights of the senior population and ensure effective implementation of the provisions in the Act.
Shrestha bemoaned that the drivers of public vehicles were reluctant to let senior citizens board vehicles and provide them discount up to 50 per cent in the fare although the government had introduced the procedure for seven years after the Act.
According to him, grievances were rife among senior citizens that although the Act mandates that the owner and drivers of the public transport have to reserve at least two seats for senior citizens and provide at least 50 per cent concession to them, bus owners and drivers were apathetic towards its implementation.
He shared that senior citizens often lament lax implementation of the Act that states that it is the duty of all to provide necessary services, facilities and assistance to senior citizens in public vehicles, health services, religious and public places.
Furthermore, senior citizens are entitled to 50 per cent discount in designated healthcare facilities.
Article 41 of the constitution of Nepal states that senior citizens shall have the right to special protection and social security from the state.
Women and Children Offices in all 77 districts have been providing identity card to senior citizens since the past six years, according to the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens.
As elderly people aged 70 and over are provided senior citizens allowance, the federation demands that the government should also consider allowance for people aged above 60 years.
The census of 2011 puts the number of elderly (aged 60 years and above) at 2,154,003 which accounts for 8.1 per cent of the total population of the country.
A version of this article appears in the print on March 15, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
