Imphal, Oct 1 MNS/ NNN: Manipur also today observed the ‘International Day of Older Persons’ (IDOP) like in other parts of the world under the theme ‘Longevity:Shaping the Future’ here at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen, Palace Compound organised by Social Welfare Department of Manipur Government.
The day was observed in all the nine districts of the State. The observance held at the Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen was the state function with the state Social Welfare minister AK Miraibai, MLAs— RK Anand, E Chand and Kikhonbau Newmai—gracing it as chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.
AK Mirabai said the observance was held by her department as part of the various welfare programmes that have been persistently taken up by it for the elderly people of the State, informing that the department has great respect for such section of people of the society and that it has continuously implementing different programme and schemes to uplift them.
Under these, Old Age Pension Scheme, Maintenance of Parent for Senior Citizen, Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) are being taken up properly and besides these, other welfare programmes are also included for disabled persons and girls as well as women, Mirabai added.
The minister, however, expressed deep regret over the widespread cheating in drawing of Old Age Pension in the State where the benefit is often claimed by persons who are not actually old, assuring she will make an all out effort to make it reach to all the original pensioners at the earliest.She also asked for sincere and good suggestions as well as plans from elderly persons for the department.
Miraibai was of the view that now parents are mistreated and victimised by their children though they have got good and higher education even as parents are beaten up by them out of disliking. She pointed out that relationship between parents and children are often turns out to be soar for the simple reason that they get education from outside resulting in a long time separation.
However, the minister said children should take proper care of their elderly parents and support them in every single sphere of their lives, saying it is considerd quite necessary to show them love and care than to give them sweets. “Hence, the Government is also trying hard to nurture older people under the Senior Citizen Act.”
The Government also runs homes like Old Age Home and Day Care Centres for all the needy older people in the country, she said and appealed to all the downtrodden and and needy aged people to come straight to Social Welfare Department if they think they are in need of support.
At the function, some one hundred older persons were presented with gifts including shawls by the Social Welfare Department. The occasion was also attended by officials of the department.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/senior-citizens-to-be-taken-care-of-mirabai/
