What they want in twilight years

We are on the brink of ending another year, moving on to yet another one. Amidst this, like every other citizen, a Bangalorean too has a list of wishes, new expectations from the City, one that has managed to accommodate some of the country's most vibrant and dynamic crowds.

Deccan Herald has managed to get some of the practical wishes that most certainly can be fulfilled by the state and its government.

The senior citizens of the City especially have been facing a lot of social issues, with respect to their health and security. Says Shankaranarayanan, 62, a retired PU college lecturer: "I have been living in this City for the past 40 years. Since then, I have seen people from all over the country come and settle here, owing much to the ideal weather and environment. When your State has inhabitants from all over, you must ensure that you provide them with those kind of facilities.”

 He finds it particularly tough to understand why there cannot be proper planning to control the flood when it rains. “This apart, as a senior citizen, I can say that there should at least be better coordination between the various government departments. Massive improvement needs to be done in the health sector and better facilities should be provided to the senior citizens. Transport wise, even though there are seats reserved for us, there is always someone else who has occupied that seat and nobody is even bothered about it."

The recent murders and dacoities have caused a great deal of terror in the minds of the elders. Lack of security measures and indifference in attitude of law-makers are always a cause of concern. "If you talk about problems, there are plenty from traffic to pollution and price hike. But what matters to me the most at this age is lack of security. In the case of elderly couples, if one of them dies earlier than the other, the partner has to live alone for the rest of his/her life. This is the time when a person is most vulnerable. If we are paying so much money in the form of tax, where is the security that we should get? Why are there so many murders and lootings happening across the City?" wonders Banani Sen, 60, a retired school teacher.

Starting from a regular garbage disposal system to better roads with less potholes, the list is endless for many. Says Seethalakshmi, a banker: "For women like me who are working, it is always difficult to dispose off the regular garbage. The problem lies with Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)'s erratic timings, since one day the collectors arrive at 9 am and another day at noon. At times, they do no appear for days together. And then we can witness those unsegregated garbage heaps all over the place. In the new year, the Corporation should at least ensure that the garbage gets cleared regularly, if they have visions of a cleaner and greener Bangalore."