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Concessions
& Benefits |
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What
are the concessions and benefits available
for senior citizens in India?
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The following concessions are available for
senior citizens in India.
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Those
who are 65 and above are permitted to
pay tax of upto Rs.10000 less than the
others. This is by way of a special tax
rebate eligible to them. This rebate
will, from next year, be enhanced to
Rs.15000. Thus, if the tax works out to
above Rs.15000, one would deduct
Rs.15000 and pay only the balance amount
as tax. That is an attractive rebate.
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Individuals
aged 65 years and above(senior
citizens), not engaged in any business
or profession will not be required to
file a return even if they meet the
criteria on ownership of immovable
property or subscription of a telephone.
However, they will have to file a return
under the scheme if they fulfil any of
the other four criteria.
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(Senior
Citizens are well advised to consult
Chartered Accountants or Income Tax Offices
on the correctness and latest updates
regarding these concessions)
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Concessions
are available for both air travel and
rail travel for senior citizens in
India.
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There
are many other concessions and benefits
for the less privileged elders, for eg;
On February 27, 1999, Finance Minister
Yashwant Sinha, while presenting the
Budget 1999-2000 in the Lok Sabha,
announced the launch of a new scheme 'Annapurna'
which aims at providing food security to
senior citizens who have no income of
their own and no one to take care of
them in their village. The scheme will
provide 10 kg of foodgrains per month
free of cost to all indigent senior
citizens, who are eligible for old age
pension but are presently not receiving
it and whose children are not residing
in the same village. The number of
persons benefiting from the scheme will
not exceed 20 per cent of the old age
pensioners within a particular state.
The gram panchayat will be required to
identify, prepare and display a list of
such persons after giving wide
publicity.
While such schemes maybe helpful in a
small way, much is to done for the
welfare of the senior citizens.
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