from an e mail forwarded by Ramarao Bodapati<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBenefits, Concessions and Schemes for Senior Citizens in \u00a0India
\n<\/b><\/span><\/div>\nGovernment of India has earmarked special benefits and concessions for Senior Citizens of India. Here is a brief compilation of same for your ready reference: \u00a0 \u00a0(1) Court cases involving senior citizens: The Chief Justice of India has advised Chief Justices of all High Courts\u00a0to accord priority to cases involving older persons and ensure their expeditious\u00a0disposal. [vide letter of Government of India, Ministry of Social Justice Empowerment (SD Section), New Delhi, F. No. 20-76\/99-SD dated 03.11.1999]<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n(2) RTI Act (Right to Information Act) Second appeals filed by senior citizens and differently abled persons under the\u00a0Right to Information Act\u00a0(RTI) are taken on a high priority basis,\u00a0according to\u00a0a directive of the Central Information Commission (CIC). For, senior citizens and physically challenged if appeals are already pending with the CIC\/SCIC, they should write to the CIC\/SCIC about their status.
\n<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n(3) Health Care<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n(a)\u00a0 <\/b>There is provision for separate queues\u00a0for senior citizens at\u00a0hospitals and health care centres when they visit for any health related concerns or clinical examinations. In Central Government Hospitals located in Delhi, namely, Safdarjung, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College associated Hospitals, separate registration counters\/windows\/rows are provided for senior citizens in OPDs to avoid standing in long queue. (b)\u00a0Assistance like wheelchairs\/trolleys are also provided for senior citizens in OPDs of Dr. RML Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital, where they\u00a0are attended on a priority basis. (c) The Delhi Government runs\u00a0special clinics for Senior Citizens\u00a0in most of its hospitals in Delhi. (d) There is a weekly geriatric OPD in Dr. RML Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital. At\u00a0All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), preference is given to Senior citizens with regard to OPD consultation, emergency management as well as\u00a0hospitalization. (e) At\u00a0Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi 104 beds are reserved for senior citizens.\u00a0In other Hospitals including AIIMS, although there is no special reservation of beds for senior citizens, preference is given to them in admission and bed is allowed to them on priority.<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n(4) Finance Taxation<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (a) You are advised to\u00a0refer to the\u00a0Indian Income Tax <\/span><\/b><\/div>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Department\u00a0for the current slabs of Income Tax including <\/span><\/b><\/div>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 rebate admissible to senior citizens.\u00a0As per\u00a0recent finance <\/span><\/b><\/div>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 budget\u00a02012-13 (presented on 16th March, 2012) the <\/span><\/b><\/div>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 threshold income when you start paying tax stands at Rs. <\/span><\/b><\/div>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.50 lakh per annum for senior citizens below 80 years age. <\/span><\/b><\/div>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 For senior citizens who are 80 years and above the threshold <\/span><\/b><\/div>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 income is Rs. 5 lakh per annum. (b) The benefit of\u00a0Section 80C\u00a0of the Income Tax Act, 1961\u00a0has been extended to the investments made under 5-Year Post Office Time Deposits Account and Senior Citizens Savings Scheme, with effect from 01.04.2007.<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n(5) Banking<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n(a) Government also gives a\u00a0higher rate of interest\u00a0to senior citizens In\u00a0certain Savings\u00a0schemes\u00a0which it runs through its large network of Post Offices (Senior Citizens Savings Scheme) and Public sector Banks. For further details you are advised to contact your nearest\u00a0Bank or local\u00a0Post Office. (b) Some banks like\u00a0State Bank of India\u00a0charge only 50% of the applicable prescribed charges in respect of following services: i) Issue of duplicate passbook\/statement of account ii) Issue of cheque books, iii) Noting of standing instructions, iv) Stop payment instructions, v) Charges of non maintenance of minimum balance, vi) Issue of balance certificate, vii) Signature verification, viii) Ledger folio charges ix) Minimum balance requirement is also\u00a050% for these class of customers.<\/span><\/b><\/div>\nPlease check with your nearest Bank on what special facilities exist for Senior Citizens\u00a0and Pensioners.
\n<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n(6) Telecommunications<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n(a)\u00a0 <\/b>Department of Telecommunications\u00a0has made special provisions for senior citizens who\u00a0apply for a new telephone connection. The department has earmarked separate priority\u00a0category for senior citizens wherein they can apply for registration.<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n(b)\u00a0 <\/b>In case of any complaint or\u00a0fault\u00a0with the telephone a senior citizen\u2019s complaint is redressed on a priority basis.<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n(c)\u00a0 <\/b>MTNL (Delhi)\u00a0gives\u00a025% discount\u00a0in rentals (Tariff Plan-250 only) and installation to Senior Citizens who are 65 years or above in age. Please submit proof of age when applying to MTNL for availing this concession. Application form\u00a0for a new connection (MTNL Delhi) in senior citizen category is\u00a0available here. (d)\u00a0MTNL (Mumbai)\u00a0has a\u00a0Non-OYT-Special\u00a0category for Senior Citizens aged 65 years or above.\u00a0 To apply for a new connection in Mumbai, senior citizens\u00a0can fill\u00a0this application form. Whereas to avail senior citizen concession on an already existing telephone connection (MTNL Mumbai)\u00a0this application form\u00a0needs to be filled in. Kindly note that these filled in forms are to be submitted to the MTNL offices in your city or sanchar haat. In case of any specific query you may call\u00a0MTNL\u00a0Help line\u00a01500\u00a0from any MTNL number. (e)\u00a0BSNL:\u00a0 I did not find\u00a0any scheme with BSNL\u00a0where concessions were admissible to senior citizens. I hope BSNL would consider such rebates soon.
\n<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n(7) Travel by Indian Railways<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n(a) Travel by\u00a0Indian Railways\u00a0is\u00a040%\u00a0cheaper for all male Senior <\/span><\/b><\/div>\nCitizens who are 60 years in age or above, while\u00a0women aged\u00a058<\/span><\/b><\/div>\nyears or above are entitled to\u00a050%\u00a0concession in fare. Indian<\/span><\/b><\/div>\nRailways provides this\u00a0fare concession to elderlies in all its <\/span><\/b><\/div>\ntrains including\u00a0Shatabdi,\u00a0Rajdhani\u00a0and Jan Shatabdi trains. <\/span><\/b><\/div>\nKindly note that while travelling all Senior Citizens need to carry proof of their Date of Birth \/ Age with a Photo ID Card. (b) There are separate Counters \/ Queues for Senior Citizens at all Railway Stations for purchase, booking or cancellation of tickets.<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n\u00a9Lower Berths:\u00a0 In trains having reserved accommodation, a <\/span><\/b><\/div>\ncombined quota of two lower berths per coach has been earmarked in Sleeper, AC 3 tier and AC 2 tier classes for Senior Citizens,\u00a0Female passenger who is\u00a045 years of age and above and\u00a0Pregnant women. (d) In the Computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS), there is a provision to allot lower berths automatically to male passengers of 60 years and above and female passengers of 45 years and above subject to the availability of lower berths at the time of booking of tickets. (e) After departure of the train, if there are vacant lower berths available in the train, and if any senior citizen who has been allotted upper\/middle berth, approaches for allotment of vacant lower berths, the Conductor\/ Train Ticket Examiner (TTE) has been authorized to allot the vacant lower berth to them after making necessary entries in the chart. (f) Special arrangements are available\u00a0for those who find it difficult to walk or move on their own. Wheel Chairs are available at all major junctions, District Headquarters and other important Railway stations for the convenience of Senior citizens and also for those who are in need. (g) Indian Railways have recently introduced\u00a0specially designed coaches which have provisions for hand rails and specially designed toilets for handicapped persons. These coaches also have\u00a0space for\u00a0wheel chairs.<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n(8) Travel by Airlines<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n(a)\u00a0 <\/b>Senior Citizens are entitled to\u00a050% discount\u00a0on Economy Class fares on all flights of\u00a0Indian Airlines\u00a0subject to certain conditions.<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n(b)\u00a0 <\/b>Air India\u00a0gives\u00a045% discount\u00a0in economy class on domestic sectors to senior citizens (women aged 63+ and men aged 65+).<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n\u00a9 Other Airlines operating in India also offer discounts to senior<\/span><\/b><\/div>\ncitizens. It\u00a0 is advisable to check with them before you plan your <\/span><\/b><\/div>\ntravel.<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n(9)Travel by Roadways (state transport) (a)\u00a0State Road Transport Undertakings\u00a0have made provision for senior citizens for reservation of 2 seats in the front row of all buses. (b) Some\u00a0state governments also give concessions (in fare) to senior citizens, while some also have specially modelled buses for the elderlies.
\n<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n(10) Law (Legislations)<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n(a)\u00a0Maintenance Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Indian Government has enacted a law for\u00a0welfare of\u00a0elderlies (senior citizens and parents). This law\u00a0creates provisions for maintenance, protection and security of elders. Download a copy\u00a0of the Act What was the need for\u00a0this law ?\u00a0(Statement of Objects and Reasons) (b)\u00a0Maintenance Tribunals\u00a0for Parents and Senior Citizens in Delhi<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n(11)\u00a0 Old Age Homes and Recreation Centres for Senior Citizens<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n(a)\u00a0Old Age Homes in India<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>(b) Recreation Centres for Senior Citizens in India<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
from an e mail forwarded by Ramarao Bodapati Benefits, Concessions and Schemes for Senior… more