No Train Subsidy For Elderly, Crores For MPs, Show Centre’s Records.
In New Delhi: As per the papers obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Indian Railways has denied concessions to older citizens, citing the need to reduce its subsidy expenses. At the same time, MPs have received millions in free and reduced-price train tickets.
In March 2020, the Indian Railways center discontinued its senior citizen discounts and offers. However, it kept subsidizing train tickets for all the former MPs and MPs.
Again as per, according to information obtained through RTI requests, the government has spent more than 62 crore rupees on discounts for MPs and former MPs travelling by train during the last five years.
As per the Lok Sabha secretariat’s response to an RTI inquiry, “The MSA Branch processes the bills of debt statements after receiving them from the Ministry of Railways through the Pay Accounts Office. According to the branch’s details and records, the MSA Branch processed the following debit claims bills for MPs and Ex-MPs: 3.99 crores in 2021–22, 2.47 crore in 2020–21, 16.4 crore in 2019–20, 19.75 crore in 2018–19, and 19.34 crore in 2017–18.”
Even after the first and, subsequent waves of the COVID-19 pandemic were over, the railways have yet to reinstate senior citizen offers on train rates.
Since the older adults’ discount was removed in March 2020—the same month Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the first lockdown during the pandemic—the railways have made 1,500 crores in money.
“We struggle, and they provide us nothing. The ruling class does not cherish their past. The public has nothing; MLAs and MPs are receiving a lifetime pension, canteen food, and everything. Their concession ought to be reinstated, “Jaganath Gupta, 76, says.
Men will receive a 40% discount on their railway tickets under government policies for the aged, while women receive a 50% discount. According to the railways’ response to Chandra Shekhar Gaur’s RTI request, 7.31 billion senior folks did not use discounted train tickets between March 20, 2020, and March 31, 2022.
These include 8,310 transsexual people, 2.84 crore women over 58, and 4.46 crore men over 60. Three thousand four hundred sixty-four crores were made from senior citizen customers who travelled during this time, including 1,500 crores after the subsidies for them were discontinued.
In comparison to MPs and MLAs, we receive limited advantages even after 30 years of service. We pay our taxes faithfully. It’s time to reinstate the subsidies. Our MPs and MLAs receive everyone under the sun and make all decisions and declarations on our behalf.
A retired government employee named Chand George calls for an egregious irony. In March of this year, Ashwini Vaishnav, the Railway Minister has, informed the Parliament that the ministry would not be returning the privileges.
Over the past five years, free train trips for MPs have cost the taxpayer more than $60 million. Free rail travel for current and retiring Lok Sabha MPs have cost the government 62 crores over the last five years, including about 2.5 crores in the pandemic-hit 2020-21, according to data made public under the RTI Act.
According to the Lok Sabha Secretariat’s response to Chandra Shekhar Gaur of Madhya Pradesh’s Right to Information (RTI) request, the Railways sent a bill totaling 35.21 crores 26.82 crores for the trip of current MPs and former MPs from 2017-2018 to 2021-2022. Additionally, the MPs and ex-MPs continued to use their rail passes during the pandemic-hit year of 2020–21, when their expenditures were $1.29 crore and $1.18 million, respectively.
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According to the rules, sitting lawmakers of the Indian Parliament are eligible for free travel on the railroads in executive or first class. Their wives are also suitable, subject to minor limitations. Among them were 8,310 transgender persons, 2.84 crore older women, and 4.46 crore older men who were males.
Former members of Parliament are also allowed to board any train, whether they are traveling alone or with a partner, in the AC-2 class. The Lok Sabha Secretariat receives the bills for processing from the Railways’ pay and accounts department. The Railways recently halted various incentives that they had given certain passenger groups, including senior folks.
While some groups expressed restrained outrage about the transfer, there has been widespread criticism over the removal of the senior citizens’ stipend. According to official figures, between March 20, 2020, and March 31, 2022, the Railways did not offer discounts to 7.31 crore senior persons.
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In the past five years, the center has paid out more than Rs 62 crore in travel subsidies to MPs. In New Delhi: The papers obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Indian Railways has denied concessions to older citizens, citing the urgency to reduce the subsidy expenditures, while MPs received millions in free and reduced train tickets.
In March 2020, the Indian Railways discontinued their senior citizen discounts. However, it is still subsidizing train tickets for the former MPs and MPs.
As per a piece of information obtained through RTI requests, the center has paid more than Rs 62 crore on discounts for MPs and former MPs over the last five years. As per to the Lok Sabha secretariat’s reply to an RTI inquiry, “The MSA Branch processes the bills of debt claims after receiving them from the Ministry of Railways through the Pay and Accounts Office.
According to the branch’s records that are now available, the MSA Branch processed the following debit claims bills for MPs and Ex-MPs: Rs 3.99 crore in 2021–2022, Rs 2.47 crore in 2020–2020, Rs 16.4 crore in 2019–2020, Rs 19.75 crore in 2018–19, and Rs 19.34 crore in 2017–2018.”
Just after the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic were over, the railways have yet to reinstate senior citizen discounts on train rates. Since the older people’s subsidy was eliminated in March 2020—the same month Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the first lockdown during the pandemic—the railroads have made Rs 1,500 crore in money. “We have been struggling, and they provide us nothing. The ruling class does not cherish the past.
The public has nothing; MLAs and MPs receive a lifetime pension, canteen, and everything. Our concession ought to be reinstated, “says 76-year-old Jaganath Gupta. Men used to receive a 40% discount on railway tickets under government policies for the aged, while women received a 50% discount.
According to the railways’ response to Chandra Shekhar Gaur’s RTI request, 7.31 billion seniors did not use discounted train tickets between March 20, 2020, and March 31, 2022.
These include 8,310 transsexual people, 2.84 crore women over 58, and 4.46 crore men over 60. Senior citizen travelers generated Rs 3,464 crore in revenue during this time, including Rs 1,500 crore after the incentive for them was eliminated.
“In comparison to MPs and MLAs, we receive limited advantages even after 30 years of service. We pay our taxes faithfully. It’s time to reinstate the subsidies. Our MPs and MLAs receive everyone under the sun and make all decisions on our behalf. What a sick irony, “Chand George, a former government worker, remarks. In March this year, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Parliament that the ministry would not be returning the privileges.
edited and proof read by nikita sharmaÂ
