Dear Fellow Kind Hearted Senior Citizens,
Greetings to enjoy your unique lifestyle by being blissful. Over two years of bumpy rides by CSR committee activities have culminated in certain findings on the voids in our efforts and how the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and Ministry of Corporate affairs are steering their action plans concerning senior citizens. The recent past has adversely impacted the lives of seniors on many counts. For example, the facilities earlier granted for senior citizens were being gradually withdrawn/reduced like on travel concessions, interest rates, medical insurance, digital literacy mission etc.,. There is no visible sign of an intent of the Governance system to improve the lives of seniors; rather the focus is shifting from social justice to social economy by creating a portal for employment of senior citizens, contributing to the equity of startups exclusively for producing goods/services for elderlies, promoting silver economy and more such initiatives.
With this pattern of steering the policy by the Governance system, we need to be in pace with change to access the benefits from ongoing avenues. Therefore, in this newsletter abstracts of some of the recent initiatives by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs have been brought out. All affiliated federations/associations/forums are requested to kindly go over the details, browse the new web portals mentioned in this newsletter and utilise the openings suiting to your specific situations. We at the CSR committee are available to catalyse/support your endeavours; upon request; aimed at fructifying your endeavours.
We facilitated through Webinar AISCCON’s EC meeting held on January 17, 2022, that witnessed a series of decisions drawing the roadmap for the growth and prosperity of our confederation; particularly on the carrying forward the following proposals:
- Hold ASCCON annual conference in Mumbai Metropolitan Region to attract CSR funding.
- A ten member AISCCON delegation to meet the Presidents of CII and FICCI.
- Webinar arrangements licence for AISCCON costing about Rs. 18,000 per year.
- A 3-4 days training for affiliates in our HQ for awareness on CSR avenues.
- Engaging outside consultants for making CSR proposals for affiliates.
- AISCCON takes up one or two projects at National level.
- The consultative process to frame out 4-5 proposals for meeting with CII / FICCI
Besides the above; for upcoming elections, the returning officers have been appointed concurrently with ongoing efforts for arriving consensus on a Presidential candidate. The committee that continues for the term 2022-2025 is expected to carry forward the decisions for implementation. A concern was raised on the 17th January 2022 EC meeting that any trend of reversing earlier EC decisions is to be obviated; so that the fruits of decisions taken / road map drawn could surface on the ground. Let us catch up with the dynamic present in an ever-changing world; else we shall be left in the world that no longer exists!. We pray to God for the departed soul of Dr GVVUM Rao, (an Active Member of the CSR Committee) to rest in peace. Best wishes.
Cordially yours …
Manohar Lal Baharani
e-mail: manoharlal.baharani@gmail.com
Mobile: 8319723072