Retirement Blues

Consider the following facts:

1. Pension for the most part is available only in gvt offices

2. Privately employed persons count only on PF and their own savings.

3. Most of the tax benefits for investing in things like LIc have all but evaporated.

4. There is no social security in India.

5. Medical help, one of the major requirements of retired people is forbiddingly expensive.

The list is endless. Before i start shouting discrimination, I must say that in the last 60 years the Indian government is largely indifferent to the needs of the retired elderly. This is mostly because of our cultural values that the children look after and provide for the parents in their old age.

However this is fast changing with the outflow of youngsters to other countries. We now have many old people homes in this country. It is no longer a taken-for-granted fact that children care for their parents in their old age.

So it is definitely time the government provided some advantages to the retired community....not sops....something significant that makes life at that age be what it should be - a reward for the service they have put in to society.

I am not ready to shout discrimination (as cultural values mentioned above have only in the last decade or so have started changing) but i am definitely getting there!!