GUWAHATI, Aug 16 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today inaugurated the office of the Jestha Nagarik Parishad (Senior Citizens� Forum) at Hengerabari here. He expressed the hope that the new office would be able to fulfil the long-felt needs of the Parishad to have a permanent address in the city for running its activities.
Informing that October 1 is the International Day of Old Persons, which has a lot of significance in today�s time, Sonowal said the State government would celebrate the occasion at the State level. He called upon the Senior Citizens� Forum to play a leading role in making this event a grand success.
Stating that elders have always been respected in the Indian society, and that they are the guiding force in shaping social values, the Chief Minister said the government is committed to serving the interests of the elderly section of the society so that they can live a life of dignity.
Expressing his dismay over the reported incidents of neglect of older parents by their children, Sonowal said if the 21st-century people do not show respect to their parents and neglect those who gave birth to them, a value-based society would be missing. He said Assam must become a leading example in showing respect to its older citizens and giving them their deserved place in the society.
Hoping that the new office of the Parishad would provide a platform for the senior citizens of the State to exchange their views on different matters concerning public life, Sonowal urged the Parishad office-bearers to record the feedback of the elderly citizens on different matters of governance and forward those opinions to the government.
Urging the young generation of the State to commit themselves to the cause of the society with renewed vigour, Sonowal said strong moral and spiritual values can help a society achieve its true potential.
PWD Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, State Minister for Social Welfare Naba Kumar Doley, MP Bijoya Chakrabarty, media adviser to the Chief Minister Hrishikesh Goswami, Housefed chairman Ranjit Kumar Dass and several other MLAs were also present on the occasion.
