Senior citizens to protest in Hubballi on March 24

Senior citizens will protest in Hubballi on March 24, demanding uniform pension rules and a dedicated budget for their welfare.

Seeking fulfilment of their long-pending demands, including uniform pension rules across the country, separate Budget for senior citizens and others, senior citizens from across the State will take out a protest march in Hubballi on March 24.

Addressing press persons here on Friday, State president of ‘Karnataka State Senior Citizens and Retired Employees’ Welfare Association’ B.A. Patil said that it had become necessary for them to take the route of protest as their repeated pleas through umpteen memoranda had not been considered by successive governments.

Mr. Patil said that after the dharna by the associatin during the Winter Session in Belagavi, Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar had assured to look into the issue and take decisions in consultation with officials. However, as nothing happened, they approached the Chief Secretary of the State, who in turn directed the secretary of Department of Women and Child Development and Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens Shamla Iqbal to look into the issue.

Subsequently, the secretary wrote to various departments about implementing orders issued regarding their demands. But till date nothing had happened, forcing them to take the path of agitation, he said.

He said the budget too was disappointing for them as none of their demands were considered by the Chief Minister and similar was the treatment of the Union government on issues concerning the senior citizens.

He said on March 24, they would assemble at Nehru Stadium before beginning the protest march and after covering the thoroughfares of the city, they would submit a memorandum to the government again.