NEW DELHI: Senior citizen concessions should be evaluated and reinstated urgently'' at least for sleeper class and AC 3-tier train travel, a parliamentary Committee has recommended on Wednesday.
According to the Standing Committee on Railways' report, which was submitted on August 4, senior citizens used to receive a concession equal to 40–50% of their train prices, but the practise was discontinued because of the COVID-19 crisis. It also urged the ministry to promote the "give up" initiative, which encourages Senior citizen to voluntarily give up their concessions, widely.
According to the Ministry of Railways' action-taken report, all passenger concessions have been withdrawn because of the pandemic, with the exception of the four Divyangjan categories, 11 patient categories, and students.
Given the government's response, the committee notes that the concession for Senior citizen has currently been discontinued in light of the pandemic and the Covid protocol. The committee are of the view that because the railroads are returning to normal, they should carefully review the concessions given to various passenger categories.
The committee, led by BJP leader Radha Mohan Singh, expressed a desire that the senior citizen concession that was previously offered in pre-COVID times be urgently reviewed and taken into consideration at least in Sleeper Class and III AC, so that the weak and truly in needy senior citizens could utilise the facility in these classes. Each year, the Railways spends almost Rs 2,000 crore on incentives for senior citizens.
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