For elders, Sikkim matters

SIKKIM SENIOR CITIZENS’ SOCIETY CONVENES SECOND GENERAL BODY MEETING
GANGTOK, 23 Nov: The second General Body Meeting of Sikkim Senior Citizens’ Society was held at MLA Hostel Hall on 21 November. Justice (Retd.) AP Subba was present as the chief guest for the meeting presided over by former Chief Secretary and president of the organization, KC Pradhan.
As per a press release, forty members from all districts attended the four-hour long meeting. The deliberations covered all significant issues currently being faced by people in the state with special reference to senior citizens.
The release mentions that the most heated discussion revolved around LPG cylinders, its transfer, KYC, non-availability, distribution and the plight of the common people. A committee has been formed to discuss this issue with the concerned authority with a view to bring home the difficulties currently faced by the people and find remedial measures for systematic regularization, distribution and delivery. In view of winter months already setting in and Sikkim being a hilly state with cold climate the need for immediate redressal was highlighted.
Other matters ranged from social issues like drugs and suicides, slum-dwellers within Gangtok Municipal Corporation and their rehabilitation, traffic congestion and need for alternate highways and road-ways, maintenance of roads, organic farming and its proper understanding for better dissemination to the people at large and its inclusion in School curriculum, issue of Identity Cards to senior citizens duly indicating the benefits already being provided by the government, the influx of migrant population and its impact on the society and ways to tackle them also came into focus, the release informs.
Committees have been formed headed by senior competent members to study each of the issues threadbare and put up proposals for further deliberation and concretization before submission to the government for their consideration, the release mentions.
The body also felt the need to form sub-committees headed by senior members with leeway to select their own team from all strata of the society and directed the Executive Committee to put these sub-committees into operation at the earliest. The role of one of the committees is Intergenerational Interactions with a view to obtain the views of the younger citizens and incorporate them in the overall scheme.
Earlier, Justice Subba gave an insight on the Maintenance & Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act. 2007 promulgated by the Government of India and all the members felt the need for its enforcement in Sikkim as well and resolved to approach the Government for its expeditious enforcement.
Also, one of the senior members expressed his concern over the disintegration and divisionism in the communities/ society and expressed that the organization should find ways and means with a view to bind all sections of the society together for the long term interest of the state. He specifically called for consensus to make all Sikkim Subject Holders and their immediate descendents as Tribals with a view to bring a sense of oneness and belongingness in the interest of the future generations.
It was informed that the state government has recently taken up with the Central Government the matter of bringing all the left-out ethnic groups under the Scheduled Tribe Status. The views were well appreciated and the issue being a complex one, the body was of the opinion that a core committee consisting of representatives of various sections of the community that matter should be constituted to examine the matter in greater depth and put up their views for further deliberation, the release adds.
The next General Body Meeting is resolved to be held in the first week of May 2013.

Elders flag issues of concern, resolve to continue working for Sikkim

SIKKIM SENIOR CITIZENS’ SOCIETY FORMED
GANGTOK, 28 March: The recently instituted Sikkim Senior Citizens’ Society [SSCS] convened its first general body meeting here at Janata Bhawan on 25 March and formalized its office-bearers even as the elders of the Sikkimese society held extensive discussions on how the organization could engage more effectively on issues of concern.
The maiden meeting of the group had retired High Court Judge AP Subba as the chief guest and JB Pradhan as guest-of-honour and was chaired by adhoc president of the society, former Chief Secretary, KC Pradhan.
The general body elected its office bearers through a consensus voice vote. While KC Pradhan was elected the President for a period of two years, DK Khati was elected vice president, TR Poudyal general secretary and Dr. Bela Cintury as treasurer. The members of the Executive Committee, Advisory Committee, District Vice Presidents and Joint Secretary were similarly chosen from amongst the members.
In his inaugural address, the SSCS president called upon the members to contribute to the strengthening of the new organization so that it could work as effectively as envisaged in the service of the Sikkimese society.
“This is an organization which can effectively discuss, develop and crystallize a model policy and advisory package on issues concerning the interests of the State as the members, by virtue of their education, experience and commitment to the cause of the State, have acquired a vast reservoir of knowledge,” he highlighted.
The issues of old-age and associated problems of senior citizens could also be addressed and resolved through this Society, he added.
Two senior citizens who hold the apex advisory posts, Justice Subba and JB Pradhan also addressed the Society, informs a press communiqué received from Mr. TR Poudyal.
Justice Subba highlighted the need and importance of the Society and briefed the meeting on the various legal and constitutional provisions that are available to senior citizens to mitigate the vagaries and vicissitudes confronting older citizens.
Mr. Pradhan, in turn, spoke on a specific issue of electricity tariff committee meeting to be held in April and suggested that the SSCS make a representation seeking a reduced power tariff for domestic uses on the lines of Himachal Pradesh with special consideration for the aged living on their own.
The possibility of seeking a payment-free meeting hall of Government Departments for holding the Society’s meeting was also brought forth by him, it is informed.
Among the issues facing the State, the SSCS president mentioned the need to make ecological contingency for the floral loss that would accompany the Teesta Stage IV hydel project. The valley over which the project is scheduled to come up comprises of unique and rich biodiversity and its loss should be compensated by raising genetic gardens as rescue homes at appropriate locations, he suggested, while calling upon the State Pollution Control Board to liaison with the NHPC during the ensuing Public Hearing on the project to finalise this aspect.
The meeting also discussed the need for a membership drive and emphasized the need to increase the number if members. Various members discussed the Constitution of the Society and recommended changes wherever inconsistencies existed, the release adds.