The Indian Express 27.03.2013
Senior citizens’ clubs get noticed, PMC to fund their social activities
Known as the pensioners’ paradise for being an attractive place to
settle down after retirement, the city has been changing hues with the
number of youth increasing over the years in the IT and education hub.
However, there still are more senior citizens’ associations in the city
than that of any other age group.
They carry out a host of social activities and the Pune
Municipal Corporation (PMC), recognising their efforts, has included
them in the group of social organisations that could claim at least Rs
15,000 per month from the civic body to run their activities.
The contribution of senior citizen associations was discussed and
appreciated in the standing committee meeting where elected
representatives said the senior citizens’ associations have been
carrying out activities like helping poor students by funding their
education, providing medicines to the poor, keeping surroundings clean,
creating awareness on saving water and electricity, holding lectures on
various subjects for uplift of society and participating in civic
activities.
“There is so much for social cause being done by senior citizens’
associations. However, they are pensioners and have limited revenue to
keep up their activities. Hence, it is necessary to recognise their
social work and encourage them,” said Shiv Sena leader Prithviraj Sutar.
As per the Municipal Corporation Act, the PMC makes a budgetary
allocation of Rs 30 lakh for funding social organisations. There is a
provision of giving a maximum of Rs 3 lakh to one organisation a year.
“After the demand for funding senior citizens’ associations, the
civic administration gave its opinion in favour of the demand and has
given permission to fund associations seeking financial help,” said
municipal secretary Sunil Parkhi.
However, associations seeking help will have to apply to the PMC and meet norms set for social organisations to get the funds.
“The PMC decision will help associations to ensure their social
activities continue. We have a lot of free time and the only thing that
was falling short was sufficient money to carry forward our activities
and the PMC assistance would be helpful,” said Sunil Naik, member of
Sangharsh Senior Citizen Association.
He said his association has been contributing to keeping Taljai
hill green and the money that would be made available to them would be
used to buy equipment for watering trees on the hill.
Sarika Joshi of Ekta Senior Citizen Association said they run a
laughter club and yoga centre for citizens of all ages free of cost.
“There are some expenses the association has to incur for cleaning the
areas where the exercises are conducted and providing medication to
citizens if needed. The PMC fund will equip us for that,” she said.
