A delegation under the banner Pension Parishad delegation, led by Aruna Roy and Baba Adhav, of old-age pensioners met with Congress President and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi to seek her support for the demand for a universal old-age pension and increased monthly financial support.
The delegation which included Naza Bai (75), a rag-picker from Maharashtra, Rukma Bai (80), a daily wage earner from Rajasthan, and Ram Kumar Gupta (75), a fruit-seller from Delhi, told Sonia Gandhi how their limbs were giving way, making it difficult for them to earn a living.
After giving a patient hearing to them, the Congress President admitted that the change in the family pattern had put elderly people at a disadvantage, and agreed that something had to be done urgently to address this problem.
Sonia Gandhi, who also heads the National Advisory Council, reportedly supported their demand for a universal old-age pension, the coverage of beneficiaries by a set of exclusion criteria, and the need for raising the pension.
Admitting that the monthly payment of Rs. 200 to those above 60 was far too low, Sonia Gandhi assured the delegation that she would put in her efforts to get them a better monthly pension.
This article is posted by pressbrief.in
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