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Photo 5Associative photo of Stasys Žumbis.
– How do the retirees themselves value the thirteenth pension offer at Seimas? – “Vakaro žinios” asked Grasilda MAKARAVIČIENĖ, President of the Lithuanian Association of the Elderly.
– We are happy with the slightest help for us. However, it would be much more effective if pensions were higher throughout the year, rather than just an additional supplement at the end of the year. So that we can finally get out of the poverty we live in.
You know, it comes as no surprise that Lithuania leads the European Union in terms of the level of poor people, minimum wages and pensions. We joined the European Union, but European wages did not reach Lithuania.
Our organization has the status of recipient of support and charity. In other countries, similar organizations receive a grant from the state, they do not have to pay utility bills, local. We pay for everything from our small pensions. For whatever reason, our millionaires are in no rush to support us.
– During the pandemic, the lives of the elderly changed dramatically. Is it back to normal?
– The mood is still nothing. Tired of masks in transport and other places, frequent presence at home for fear of going out and getting infected. But the biggest problem is the limited availability of treatment services. I get a few calls a day with complaints that seniors can’t make doctor appointments. Or worse yet, there are simply no phones at the reception.
Of course, nobody wants to get infected. Everyone is as safe as possible. But the saddest thing for me is that this situation has affected the elderly a lot. Many people have become depressed. We have a psychologist who volunteers to counsel the elderly and is very helpful. But the pandemic is world class. Little depends on us, we have to find ways to survive.
– What changes should be made to keep pensioners out of poverty?
– Pensions must be increased once and compared to the average salary. Only then will we get out of poverty. If we go up a little, it will never work because prices go up faster than pensions. Says to be expected. We have been waiting for 30 years.
– What should be the pension today so that retirees can live with dignity, sometimes go to the theater?
– Today the pension should be at least 800 euros. And for that to be the case, we must hold the authorities themselves more accountable. Until there is personal responsibility, we will not live like other countries. I understand that we cannot reach the richest countries, but we can get at least a little closer.
Ideally, the government should not distribute money as it does now, but create and safeguard jobs. If people could earn money, they could live with dignity, raise children here, and run nowhere.
– It has always been said that there is no money to raise pensions. Now it seems that money is for everyone: doctors, retirees, educators and farmers?
– There is money, only that it is distributed incorrectly. Why do we pay so much to the vain? There are people in Lithuania who have not worked for a day in 30 years.
And how much more do we spend on various control authorities. It’s hard enough to count them all. But none of them see that there is no way to get rid of corruption. No one condemns even holding hands.
You know, I would very much like someone to teach me how to increase my wealth by tens of millions a year. I have worked for 57 years and still work on a social level. But I never saw a million in my bank account. And someone increases wealth 8 times a year and everyone is silent, everything looks good. If we were more active, we would have more. You need to claim your rights, not stay with your head down and your arms outstretched.
– Are you saying that we allow the government to do the same to us?
– Yes. You know, when the euro was introduced in Germany, I was there. When they saw the prices in the stores in the morning, they took to the streets from the smallest to the oldest. What about us? Everyone fears for their children and grandchildren. You know, I also have great children and very dear grandchildren. And the next time I speak more boldly in the press, I get threatening calls at night to shut up or shut up. I keep thinking, I will keep quiet, but when I see what is being done with Lithuania, I cannot bear it.
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