Senior citizens seek space in political parties’ manifestos Read more at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/109296006.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

 New Delhi: Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, senior citizens in the city have raised a demand for the inclusion of their rights in political party manifestos.

A collective of elderly citizens has called for the proper implementation of the National Policy on Senior Citizens, 2018, and Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana. Additionally, the elderly have demanded the immediate restoration of railway concessions.
“These were revoked during Covid,” the citizens said.
“There has been a steady rise in the population of senior citizens (60-plus in age) in India. The number of elderly persons has increased from 1.98 crore in 1951 to 7.6 crore in 2001, 10.38 crore in 2011 to 149 million people in 2022, comprising around 10.5% of the country's population. By 2050, this population will double to 20.8%, with the absolute number at 347 million,” Help Age India said.
Speaking to TOI, Prakash Borgaonkar, spokesperson for HelpAge India, that is part of the collective, said: “We want all parties to understand that the number of the elderly is only increasing, which will constitute a big vote share. Hence, political parties should be working for our rights and add them in their manifesto.”