Why aren’t the elders loved as much as cows?
“Old roots, new shoots, beautiful tree” – this line composed by a poet is a celebration of the essence of life. A society that forgets its elders has no future. The elders have a share in everything that we are experiencing today. It is our duty to carry forward to our children the legacy of our elders. A trunk cannot grow by neglecting the roots, and our new generations owe a lot to their elders and have duties and responsibilities towards them.
Unfortunately, we call our elders old and infirm. They are being considered a burden on society. In several countries including China, elders have become a huge problem. Due to the one-child policy in China, the population of youth has decreased while the population of elders has increased, and the elders therefore have become a burden for that country.
During the COVID pandemic, many western countries including China tried everything to reduce their burden as a result of which, elders died in large numbers. Only time will tell if these elders died due to the Coronavirus or the Coronavirus arrived to take these elders away. But the harsh reality is that many countries used Coronavirus as a pretext to reduce the burden of the elders.
India has the highest regard for its senior citizens and elders and respecting its elders is an integral part of the country’s culture. But merely respecting them doesn’t help them lead a good life. Today, a generation is before us that enrolls elders in old-age homes. The main reason for this being the loss of economic freedom of the aged person who had till then taken care of the family.
Today, the children don’t show the same love and affection towards their fathers and mothers as much as they show towards the cow. The government that wastes crores of rupees on opening cow shelters is not yet ready to take suitable actions and ensure the aged citizens spend their last days in their homes. It has handed over this responsibility entirely to families.
If the government comes forward to provide a small pension to all the elderly who are living, the lives of elderly would become bearable. It seems that the government does not consider them even worthy of leading bearable lives as it appears that nobody has asserted that the goddesses who live in the bodies of cows also live in elders! Perhaps, this is the reason why the government has become blind towards the fate of elders who are being pushed to old age homes in other words slaughterhouses.
In this country, only 10 percent of senior citizens are beneficiaries of regular and legitimate pensions. Most of them have served in government departments, armed forces, or similar such organized sectors. The remaining 90 percent of senior citizens don’t receive a pension or receive the very meager amount as a pension.
The Centre’s main program for providing basic infrastructure facilities for senior citizens of the unorganized sector is The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP). Out of the eight crore senior citizens belonging to the unorganized sector, only two crore senior citizens are beneficiaries of this program. For this program, Rs 8,516 crore was allocated for the year 2020-2021. It is obvious that the allocation has been made without considering the rate of inflation. The senior citizens who are in need of financial aid are not getting pensions. Those who availed of pension earlier also are facing several obstacles such as rules around the provision of Aadhar Card, Biometric identification, and other such cumbersome processes.
Besides NSAP, there are several programs for workers of the unorganized sector but the budgetary allocations for these programs are minuscule. Given this background, almost six crore senior citizens are still awaiting pension. Small farmers are also deprived of the government’s pension scheme.
As part of the NSAP program, senior citizens have been grouped in the age group of 60-79 years and 40 years and above. The Central government provides Rs 500 for those who fall in the second group. But the number of senior citizens in the first group is large and the government is giving them only Rs 200.
This, when crores of rupees are being wasted for cow shelters and salaries and allowances of senior officials and politicians are regularly increasing. Even as the number of billionaires in the country has increased more than ever before, the pension provided by the Centre for senior citizens who have worked for the last four decades from morning to night is only Rs 200. And only 72 percent of senior citizens are receiving this benefit.
This amount fixed 10 years ago has not been revised despite several demands, protests, and recommendations. The value of this amount is actually only a meager Rs 10 in the present-day context. State governments also contribute to this amount provided by the Centre. Small states such as Kerala, Goa, Delhi, and others have increased their share and pay a pension of Rs 2000 to senior citizens.
But the contribution of states that have a large number of senior citizens has also reduced. This meager pension is also not being released in time and senior citizens have to spend a lot of time and money to use the amount. The grievance redressal system is also very inefficient.
The government should therefore let the farmers take the responsibility of cows and cattle and try to improve the lives of senior citizens and the elderly. The amount reserved for cow shelters should be used for this purpose. The government should also increase the budgetary allocation for the welfare of senior citizens. Only if roots are strong can shoots grow; if a tree forgets its roots, how can it grow new shoots?
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Messi mania grips Kolkata as thousands welcome Argentine icon at 2.26 am
Kolkata (PTI): Thousands braved the December chill and waited past midnight to give a rousing welcome to Argentine superstar footballer Lionel Messi as he arrived in Kolkata for his whirlwind three-day, four-city GOAT India Tour 2025.
The Barcelona legend's 2.26 am touchdown in the early hours of Saturday sent the city into a frenzy. Gate 4 of the international arrivals turned into a roaring sea of chants, flags and flashing phones, with fans sprinting between gates for even a fleeting glimpse of their favourite star.
Children perched on shoulders and drums rolled as Messi was whisked out through the VIP gate under massive security. A heavy convoy then escorted him to his hotel, where another huge crowd was waiting deep into the night.
Barricades, police deployment, and non-stop cheering completed a citywide eruption of "Messi mania."
Messi arrived with long-time strike partner Luis Suárez and Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul. Over the next 72 hours, he will zip across Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi, meeting chief ministers, corporate leaders, Bollywood celebrities and eventually Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.
Sleepless wait ends in disappointment
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Despite keeping vigil through the night, the wait ended in disappointment for many fans as they could not catch a glimpse of their icon.
Heavy security meant Messi was whisked out of the airport and taken to his hotel around 3.30 am through a back entrance, giving hundreds of waiting supporters a complete miss.
Only a handful of lucky airport staff managed a fleeting glimpse of the Argentine superstar as he stepped off the private Gulfstream V, looking dapper in a black suit over a white T-shirt, before being driven straight off the tarmac.
The Hyatt Regency lobby turned chaotic as fans sprinted across corridors shouting "Messi! Messi!" that echoed well past dawn.
The lobby resembled an Argentine fan club, dotted with sky-blue jerseys, scarves and flags. Breast-feeding infants clung to mothers, children raced around, and exhausted supporters sank into lobby sofas as the frenzy built up.
Messi checked into Room 730, with the entire seventh floor sealed off to ensure no movement around his suite.
With security at its peak, some fans who could afford it booked rooms in the hotel to stay as close to Messi as possible.
A family from New Alipore checked in a day early just so that their son, Krish Gupta, a Cristiano Ronaldo fan, would not miss a Messi moment.
"I'm a die-hard Ronaldo fan, so what? His biggest rival is coming to my city and I cannot miss the moment. So we planned to stay in the hotel a day in advance," said Krish, a Class 9 student of Birla High School.
He roamed the coffee shop with his mother and elder sister, anxious for a peek at the icon.
"I just want to tell him to play football with me. And if I'm not successful, I will go to the gym tomorrow morning to catch a glimpse of him. I have my autograph book ready and hopefully I will get a selfie."
High hopes
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Satadru Dutta, the sole promoter of the tour who received Messi at the airport, said the moment was historic for Kolkata.
"In 2011, he had come after becoming the captain, but now he is coming after winning the World Cup and his eighth Ballon d'Or. So, this is really special. I don't think he will come again, so it's about celebration," Dutta told reporters.
He said Messi's presence could give Indian football a real push.
"Never ever have so many sponsors come together for a football star. You can say this is for Messi, but even if 10 per cent of that money comes to the development of Indian football, it would be very big. This statue that has come up and will be unveiled in the morning is also the first-of-its-kind in the world. Messi is set to leave a legacy behind this time," he added.
Security was tightened across the city ahead of Messi's GOAT India Tour, with policemen at every crossing, sniffer dogs checking vehicles and heightened surveillance around the hotel.
Staff were busy preparing the themed decor, including two large three-layered fondant cakes in Christmas colours.
Outside the airport and later near the hotel, massive crowds braved the winter chill to welcome Messi.
Fans waved Argentina flags and jerseys, screamed his name and broke into chants as emotions ran high, some clapping, some crying, many overwhelmed at witnessing a once-in-a-generation legend in their city.
The Hyatt Regency became the epicentre of the frenzy, with street vendors selling scarves, flags and Messi No 10 jerseys.
A few fans turned up in wigs and full Argentine colours. "This is a lifetime opportunity. We will not sleep tonight and will head straight to the stadium in the morning. Today is celebration day," said one fan.
The Itinerary
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Messi begins his GOAT India Tour on Saturday with a sponsors' meet-and-greet before heading to the Salt Lake Stadium for a tribute programme featuring music, dance and an exhibition match between Mohun Bagan 'Messi' All Stars and Diamond Harbour 'Messi' All Stars.
He is scheduled to arrive at 10.50 am for interactions with both teams, a felicitation of Bengal's Santosh Trophy-winning side and a "Master Class with Messi" for kids. Luis Suárez, Rodrigo De Paul and Shah Rukh Khan will join the proceedings, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other dignitaries invited.
Messi will take a lap of honour before a virtual unveiling of his 70-foot statue at Lake Town.
He will then depart for Hyderabad at 2.05 pm for the evening leg at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, featuring a short exhibition match, a five-minute appearance by Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, a football clinic and felicitation.
He then heads to Mumbai for his event at the Wankhede. The leg will also feature a 45-minute philanthropic fashion event with Suárez and De Paul, preceded by a Padel Cup at the CCI.
The tour ends in Delhi where Messi will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Minerva Academy's triple youth-trophy winners will be felicitated, followed by a nine-a-side celebrity match.
Kolkata's tryst with footballers
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Kolkata's bond with football royalty dates back to 1977 when Pele's New York Cosmos played a 2-2 draw against Mohun Bagan at Eden Gardens.
Pele returned in 2015 to greet the class of '77, telling the crowd: "You can never have another Pele."
Brazil's Dunga, Bebeto and Mauro Silva, and Colombia's René Higuita who showcased his scorpion-kick saves in 2012 all drew big turnouts. German great Oliver Kahn's 2008 farewell match at Salt Lake Stadium pulled more than one lakh spectators.
But no one stirred the city like Diego Maradona, whose 2008 and 2017 visits saw near-unprecedented crowds line the streets and stadiums. Uruguay's Diego Forlán, fresh from his Golden Ball win, received a similarly rousing welcome in 2010.
Then in 2011, Messi had visited the city captaining Argentina for the first time on foreign soil, leading them to a 1-0 win over Venezuela in an FIFA international friendly before a packed Salt Lake Stadium.
