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Demand for separate department for welfare of elders

By The Assam Tribune

GUWAHATI, June 9 � The Government of Assam was urged upon to declare immediately the State policy for older persons and also to set up separate department and directorate to look after the programme concerning the well being of the elderly citizen by the oldest organisation of the senior citizens of the State, Panjabari Senior Citizens� Association, a press release stated.

The association in its meeting held recently under the presidentship of DN Chakravarty, general secretary of the Assam Senior Citizens� Association, also urged upon the Government to implement fully the Maintenance of Parents and Welfare of Senior Citizens� Act in the State. The Panjabari Senior Citizens� Asscociation which organised its first monthly Alochana Chakra in order to regenerate urge among the elders to be more active in literary and intellectual pursuit discassed at lenght the National Policy for Senior Citizens, 2011.

Initiating the discussion Tabiul Hussain, well known writer and secretary of social service, Assam Senior Citizens� Association, highlighted the salient features of the Senior Citizens� Act of 1999 and explained the broad approach of the revised policy of 2011 with special emphasis on various welfare measures for healthy, contented and purposeful ageing.

Hussain said that apart from the familiar welfare measures like provision of health case and financial assistance the national policy also sought to guarantee the elderly section of the society the right to participate actively in matters of national concern and also to secure to State assistance for self fulfilment.

Several senior citizens Dr Hareswar Goswami, Narayan Bora, Dr Achyut Chandra Medhi, Bhagaban Chandra Deka, Sayed Hasinur Rahman and Profulla Kumar Mahant in this speeches stresed the need for wider publicity of the National Policy and the Concerned Acts and various facilities available for elderly section of the society.

Dal Bahadur Chetri, president of the PSCA explained the purpose of the meeting. Chakroavarty in his presidential remarks said that the United Nations had already proclaimed that the elderly citizens had the right to live as active partners in society with full dignity without any discrimation. KK Dutta offered vote of thanks, the release added.

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