The Communist Party of India (CPI) city unit would organise a satyagraha in front of Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) office on Tuesday to highlight the plight of the aged people.
Addressing a press conference in Vijayawada on Saturday, CPI city secretary Donepudi Sankar said that the dharna was being organised to protest against the government’s indifferent attitude towards the aged persons. The government was paying only Rs. 200 as old age pension, and no concern for their problems. The aged people were utterly neglected in the State , he said.
The other states like Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Goa were giving a pension of Rs. 1,000 per month to aged people. While West Bengal was giving Rs. 750 per month, the states like Karnataka, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand were paying Rs.400 per month.
It was only in Andhra Pradesh old age pensions were pegged at Rs. 200. The government is requested to increase the old age pensions to Rs.2,000 per month. And physically challenged pensions need to be hiked to Rs. 2,500 from existing Rs. 500. This apart, health cards, railway pass, concession in RTC services should also be provided to them, he added.
