When Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee unveils the budget on July 6, senior citizens hope it will be 'age-friendly' and will addresses their concerns about pension, income security and increase the tax exemption limit.
The concerns of the country's 9 crore (90 million) elderly people, who want the government to utilise their skills for mutual benefit, include safety, pension, income security, raising the tax exemption limit and health benefits.
"We are not getting any incentive at this hapless age. The government must seriously consider providing us health care and other benefits so that we can live with dignity," S P Agarwal, who lives in Gharonda Old Age Home in New Delhi, said.
Agarwal, an octogenarian and a former professor of Physics in Allahabad University, said people like him are "living like beggars" as many of them even do not get old age pension, ration card or any other benefits.
"The government must try to utilise our skill as it will not only benefit them but also help us earn our livelihood respectably," he added.
HelpAge India, an NGO working for the welfare of elderly, has written to Finance Minister Mukherjee asking for an "age-friendly budget" for seniors.
"We are urging the government to free all those above 80 years of age from all taxes and allow them to spend the evening of their lives in peace," Chief Executive of HelpAge India Mathew Cherian said.
The NGO listed three primary issues to be addressed -- pension, income security and raising income tax exemption limits and heathcare security for seniors.
Another demand included uniform social pension across the country. The social pensions, which depend upon state contributions, vary from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000 per month, an amount that many feel is "too meagre."
"Such pensions which sometimes are the only source of livelihood for us should be enhanced to a level that one can at least meet his basic requirements with it," Agarwal said.
Sudershan Arora (70), president of the Senior Citizens Welfare Association in Rajendra Nagar, said, "Old age comes with its share of problems. At such a time, the government is expected to lend a helping hand to the elderly."
Currently, the income tax exemption limit for senior citizens is Rs 2.25 lakh (Rs 255,000). They are demanding that the threshold limit for them should be increased to Rs 3 lakh (Rs 300,000).
The NGO has also demanded zero-balance bank accounts for pension beneficiaries and livelihood opportunities for them in schemes like NREGA, formation of self help groups and a provision of credit for small enterprises.
