While on the one hand, inflation is skyrocketing, the government is becoming more and more miser on granting concessions to the deserving classes whereas just a few days ago through an RTI information it has been revealed that the loans of ultra rich worth 11 lakh crores have allegedly been remitted. This was revealed by none other than a vociferous MP of AAP Sanjay Singh in a press conference. On Wednesday, the union minister of railways Ashwani Vaishnav in Parliament refused to accord any concessions to the senior citizens and sportsmen saying that the railway fares are already too low. Speaking in Parliament railway minister Ashwani Vaishnav said that due to these concessions the railways already suffered a lot bearing the heavy losses and more than fifty percent of the concessional fares to senior citizens and other classes. Citing the losses suffered by the railways during the Covid 19 period Vaishnav said that giving concessions will further impact the railways negatively. In view of this the purview of concessions to be enhanced to senior citizens and other categories is not advisable. The Union railway minister has in a written reply catagorically refused to grant any further relief in railway concessions though the railways have in a statement literally agreed to continue concessions in four categories of handicapped and disability 11 categories if patients and students etc. It may be recalled that the railways has generated Rs 1500 crores during the Covid 19 last two years from March. During those days the Railways had revoked the concessions given by railways to senior citizens. According to a report sought from railways through RTI query, the Railways had given the concessions of 7.31 crores to senior citizens from2020 to 31 st March 2022. While the senior citizens have been denied railway concessions the lawmakers of Parliament n assemblies present n those retired are enjoying maximum free railway and air concessions worth crores of rupees.
