However, the elderly voices have remained unheard till date.
The group demanding that they be given 50 percent concession in public transports as guaranteed by the Senior Citizens Act- 2006 have been staging sit-in protests and chanting slogans against the government for three hours every day at the DoTM office. As per the act, anyone who is 60 years old or above is entitled to 50 percent discount in public transports. The Supreme Court has also issued a mandamus to the government agencies to ensure the rights of elderly people.
Maha Prasad Parajuli, who leads the struggle committee formed by the elderly people, claimed that Sudarshan Prasad Dhakal, director general of the DoTM, had committed a month ago to ensure their rights by holding dialogues with the public transport entrepreneurs.
“The DG had committed on a radio program that he would address our problem, but now he is trying to evade us,” said Parajuli.
However, the DoTM Director Chandra Phuyal claimed that the agitating group often refused their invitations for dialogue.
Phuyal refuted Parajuli´s claim and said that the DoTM had never asked them to withdraw the protest and sit for dialogue.
“The officials underestimated us as they felt we would be fed-up soon and end the protest,” said the 65-year-old former bureaucrat. He retired as an under secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communication.
Meanwhile the transport entrepreneurs have stuck to their earlier position saying that they are not in a position to give 50 percent discount to senior citizens.
The public vehicle entrepreneurs had earlier proposed with the DoTM to be flexible on vehicle import tax if the fare concession is to be implemented, said Dharma Rimal, chairman of the Bagmati chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Transport Entrepreneurs (FNTE). The entrepreneurs are currently paying 300 percent in tax for vehicles that are imported from India or other foreign countries.
As per the National Census 2011, people who are 65 or above represent 8 percent of the country´s population. Likewise, of the total population of the Kathmandu Valley, 6 percent are above 60.
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