Retirees living in Van explained that they are struggling to meet their basic needs due to low pensions and rising costs of living. Citizens stating that rents in the city have reached the 15-20 thousand lira level indicated that pension payments are insufficient to cover rent, utility bills, and food expenses.
Retiree Ali Beyaz expressed that the living conditions for retirees have become severe, stating, “The situation of retirees is already clear. Retirees are collecting vegetables from the trash. The retiree is miserable. Here in Van, rent is 15-20 thousand lira. How is a retiree supposed to get by?”
Beyaz stated that retirees want humane living conditions and argued that administrators and members of parliament do not take the citizens' situation into account.
RENT AND BASIC EXPENSES STAND OUT
Cevdet Tanrıverdi also stated that retirees are experiencing financial hardship, saying, “By God, the situation of retirees is clear, it is out in the open. Retirees are struggling to survive. We cannot make ends meet. We truly cannot make ends meet. We cannot keep up with anything.”
Expressing that rent expenses are one of the biggest problems, Tanrıverdi said, “If I didn't own my home, I wouldn't be able to afford the rent.” Stating that his children have finished their education, Tanrıverdi said that families with students are experiencing even greater difficulties and that many people have become indebted to banks.
İsmet Yıldırım stated that there are approximately 76 thousand retirees in Van and expressed that incomes remain below the hunger threshold. Yıldırım said, “Currently, the hunger threshold is 38 thousand lira. Unfortunately, there are people who are trying to survive on 9 thousand lira. Many of them are renting, and many have students.”
Yıldırım emphasized that the living conditions of retirees must be improved, assessing that, “They must grant the rights of the retiree properly.”
Sait Koşar also said that the economic situation of retirees is not good, stating, “The retiree is already finished. The minister knows it, the President knows it, the member of parliament knows it. This retiree is a poor soul. They also have a student. They also have rent. They also have water bills, they have natural gas. How are they managing?”
Retirees stated that their pensions are eroding in the face of rent and basic expenses, and demanded that permanent steps be taken to improve living conditions.
News Source : 12punto
