Mangalore, Oct 2: It is pitiable that several elderly persons have had to live in old-age homes far away from their families and depend on charity for survival, lamented Dakshina Kannada district-in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai.
Speaking after inaugurating the World Senior Citizens Day programme at Little Sisters of the Poor and Aged institution at Bajjodi here on Tuesday, he said that disregard for elderly parents by their children was on the increase in the present age. The present generation has forgotten the pains they have taken to raise them. In this regard, it is up to the government to take care of them, he said.
He said that the current government was keen on the welfare of elderly women and would bring several schemes for their benefit such as identity cards, bus travel discount, pension and Sandhya Suraksha.
Vice-president of Senior Citizens' Association, Mangalore T G Shenoy presided over the programme which was jointly organised by Dakshina Kannada district administration, zilla panchayat, Department of Women and Child Welfare, disabled and senior citizens' empowerment and self-help groups.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Shenoy lamented that the elderly who were revered in olden days, were now being neglected by their own family members as families grew smaller and distant with the changing times.
DK zilla panchayat social welfare committee president Pakeera M, Vishwas Trust director Dr Olinda Pereira and C Josephine of Little Sisters of the Poor were present.
Senior citizens felicitated
94-year-old Ligory D'Souza who was a resident at the charitable institution for the past 24 years and 91-year-old Matthew D'Souza who had been staying there from 15 years, both of whom were looked after by the institution, were felicitated on the occasion.
Former serviceman Gopalkrishna Shenoy was also felicitated.
Demands placed by senior citizens' association
A memorandum was handed over Mr Rai by Mangalore Senior Citizens Association on the occasion.
Among the demands placed by the association were provision of 25 percent discount in KSRTC buses for senior citizens along with strict adherence to reservation for the elderly in buses, increasing the current monthly pension of Rs 500 to Rs 2000 to beneficiaries under Sandhya Suraksha scheme, reducing the minimum age of beneficiaries in the scheme to 60 years and providing better footpaths and safe walking areas in the city for the elderly.
Sharmila Vidyasagar and Sandeep spoke on the occasion as resource persons.
Deputy Director of Women and Child Welfare Department Gertrude Veigas welcomed the gathering.
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