Senior citizen bodies from Punjab meet at PAU,websites launched

The delegates were welcomed by S P Karkara,lAS (Retd),president of Senior Citizens’ Welfare Association,Ludhiana.

Dr Khehra highlighted how population as well as problems faced by elderly were increasing over the years. Senior citizens were already more than 10% in Punjab (next only to Kerala). It has been predicted that in the years 2000- 2050,the overall population in India would grow by 55%,whereas population of 60+ will increase by 326% and those in the age group of 80 plus by 700%.

Changing family structure,falling family values,increasing elder abuse and declining family support systems have added to problems of the elderly. Further,about two-third of senior citizens are economically poor,he added.

The members finalised a programme for a state-level campaign to promote formation of senior citizen associations/councils in all cities/towns and in substantial number of villages in the state.

The target for current year is to have more than 100 new associations,they said.

They added that the Punjab government will be convinced to ensure early implementation of the already accepted demands such as formulation of state policy for senior citizens,state council for senior citizens,appointment of state- and district-level nodal officers in police and health departments and representation of senior citizens in district-level committees.

The federation thanked the state government for formulation and gazette notification of Rules for Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act,2007,and for state-level celebration of International Senior Citizens Day in October every year.

On this occasion,websites of Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of Punjab (FEDSEN-PUNJAB) and Senior Citizens’ Welfare Association Ludhiana (SCWAL) were also launched. The websites were launched by PAU Vice-Chancellor B S Dhillon.