Senior citizens fast tomorrow

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior citizens under the aegis of the Senior Citizens’ Friends Welfare Association (SCFWA) will hold a fast in front of the Secretariat here on November 29, to highlight various demands including formation of a Welfare Board for senior citizens, a commission for the old-aged, ensuring due share of allotment in the Food Security Bill and implementation of Senior Citizen’s Protection Act, 2007. SCFWA state general secretary Amaravila Ramakrishnan Nair, senior vice- president R Rajan, organising secretary P Prabhakran and others told a news conference that senior citizens continue to remain as the most neglected lot in the society. No significant schemes have been earmarked for the aged in the one-year intensive programme announced by the UDF Government, they said. They also demanded that the ‘Vayomithram’ project of the government should be extended across the state. Other demands include Rs 1,500 pension for those aged 60 and above, implementation of free comprehensive health insurance scheme and hiking of EPF pension to Rs 5,000 per month. The fast will commence at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m.