It was the 57th day on Tuesday since Dhana Maya Sunar, 68, started making rounds of the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) every day with the hope that the government officials would someday address the problem of senior citizens. [break]
However, no government officials have extended even their sympathy to those ageing people who have come for the government´s assurance to provide 50 percent discount in public transport or any other constitutional rights meant for their benefits.
Similarly, the Supreme Court also issued a mandamus to the government agencies to ensure the rights of elderly people.
Sunar lives with her husband in Manahara of Jadibuti, Kathmandu, whereas her three sons have separated from parents few years ago. She shared that though people notice the ageing people traveling miserably on public transport, they vacate seat only occasionally.
Though the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division is currently monitoring the implementation of reserved seats in public vehicles in the Valley, the condition is pathetic in rest of the country, said Purushottam Tiwari, 64, of Bhaktapur, who participated in the protest.
The chairperson of the struggle committee Maha Prasad Parajuli claimed that the DoTM officials were rude in telling them that their protest was useless.
The number of senior citizens are growing in the country and many of them are dependent upon whatever their son and daughter provide them at harsh stage of their life, said Parajuli.
As per the National Census 2011, 8 percent of the total population of the country covers the people of 65 years age and above. Likewise, 6 percent of the total Kathmandu Valley people are above 60 years age. Of the total 2.5 million population of the valley, there are 1,63,992 senior citizens.
However, the DoTM officials said that it was not possible for them to guarantee concessions as almost all the public vehicles are operated by private transport operators in the country. There are around 25,000 public vehicles in the country, including 15000 in the Bagmati zone alone.
“We have several times directed the transport entrepreneurs to guarantee reduced rates for the passengers who show senior citizen card in the vehicle,” said the DoTM Director Chandra Phuyal.
The geriatric community is also preparing to go on hunger strike if their demands remain unaddressed by May 5. “Our relay hunger strike will be followed by fast-unto-death if the government does not respond to our demand positively by Tuesday,” added Parajuli.
Related story
Transport entrepreneurs suggest ways to improve public transpor...
