“If the poor have to live, they have to learn to beg for food,” says Ms Ayesha Begum from Andhra Pradesh, a former road construction labourer.
Her voice is one among the thousands of poor and elderly women and men from 22 States on dharna at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. After toiling hard in their productive years, all that these people, some of whom are disabled, want is pension of at least Rs 2,000 a month.
At present, old age beneficiaries get anywhere between Rs 200 to Rs 1,000 depending on the State contribution.
The five-day dharna for universal pension, which began on May 7, is organised by the Pension Parishad, spearheaded by social activists Baba Adhav and Ms Aruna Roy.
In India, the proportion of the population aged 60 years is expected to rise to 20 per cent (315 million) by 2050. Around 75 per cent of the elderly live in rural areas, of this over 48 per cent are women, including 55 per cent widows.
On the dharna's first day, the cause found support from citizens and parties of different hues. Among those who supported the demand for universal pension were Justice Mr Rajendra Sacchar, veteran journalist Mr Kuldeep Nayyar, CPI leader, Mr D Raja, former Planning Commission member, Mr B Mungekar, Mr Ramchandra Kundaliya, MP, Rajya Sabha, Ms Mohini Giri, Guild of Services and Prof Prabhat Patnaik, economist.
“There is no way in which the Government can say that it does not have the funds to meet this demand. Unlike other countries, India has the lowest tax- GDP ratio and it is possible to raise additional taxes, and if that is done then the demand for universal pension can be met,” Prof Patnaik said.
Ms Giri spoke of the “urgent need for mandating a single window delivery system where all vulnerable people can avail of pensions, medical facilities and other services with dignity and as a right.”
At present, under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme, below poverty line people above 60 years of age are eligible for pension where the Centre contributes Rs 200 a month. State Governments are expected to make an equal contribution.
In Budget 2012, the Finance Minister announced that the Centre's contribution towards old age pension for those in the age group of 60 to 79 years will be raised to Rs 300 a month.