Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 1: J&K State Legal Services Authority organized an “Online Celebration Program” on the occasion of “International Day of Older Persons” in association with Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India and RRTC Anugraha.
The programme was attended by members of Ahaata-e-Waqaars of Jammu, Leh, Srinagar, Kathua, Samba, members of Swabhimaan Parisar, Delhi, members of Old Age Homes of Siman, Meham Rohtak and Haridwar Uttarakhand, members of senior citizen Homes of Yamuna Nagar Haryana and Chopal Himachal Pradesh; Secretaries DLSAs, PLVs, members of NGOs and social activists.
Justice Gita Mittal, Chief Justice High Court of J&K and Patron-in-Chief J&K SLSA, in her address emphasized the importance of celebrating the Day for constantly reminding us of our duties towards the senior generation and enabling us to celebrate their existence on a global platform while taking care of their needs, especially in the societies where senior generation is either abandoned or reduced to the status of a side-help at home for working couples. She also focused the attention of the attendees towards a sad evolution in the communities where instances of atrocities on elders is rampant and the consequent importance of robust legislative provisions for taking care of the need of senior citizens viz-a viz their maintenance and other related requirements.
Justice Rajesh Bindal, Executive Chairman J&K SLSA, J&K State Legal Services Authority, in his address called upon the participants to introspect themselves and develop sensitivity towards the needs and concerns of senior citizens and to adopt the slogan of “Each one Take Care of One”.
Rajiv Chandra, Officer at United Nations, read out the message of Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the day.
MK Sharma, Member-Secretary, J&K State Legal Services Authority, Dr Aabha Chaudhary, Chairperson, Anugraha, Upma Srivastava, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India also expressed their views.
A cultural programme “Hum Mein Hai Josh” by members of Ahaata-E-Waqaar’s of J&K and Ladakh and members of old age homes from different States of India was the highlight of the event.
Maher Singh, Senior Citizen and Member, Ahaata-e-Waqaar, Kathua presented a song in observance of the day.
Parvez Manous, member of Ahaata-e-Waqaar, Srinagar, recited an Urdu Poem to mark the celebration. Sita Ram Sapolia, Senior Citizen and member of Ahaata-e-Waqaar, Samba who is also recipient of Sahitya Academy Award, recited a poem in Hindi. Tsewang Nurboo entertained the online audience with a Ladakhi Folk song. Kewal Krishan Wadhera, social worker and member of Ahaata-e-Waqaar, Jammu enthralled the attendees with a song.
Rajeev Gupta, Director J&K Judicial Academy moderated the programme.
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