22 Oct, Biratnagar- President Bidya Devi Bhandari, inaugurating the Senior Citizens’ Festival amidst a function here today, has said that senior citizens’ contribution was an important asset of the nation.
President Bhandari suggested utilizing such contribution of the senior citizens as the energy for the social development. She expressed worry over the distractions of our traditional culture due to globalization and modernization.
The self-centred thinking and personal greed were ruining the joint family, she said. She opined for implementing the programmes and policies adopted to sort out the problems of senior citizens.
The President viewed that the senior citizens allowance issued by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Adhikari-led government was the exemplary programme in South Asia.
She further claimed that it supported the senior citizens to bring positive change. President Bhandari stressed on implementing the existing provision regarding the senior citizens. She said that all should take moral responsibility of children and senior citizens which could ensure the security to the state as well.
Similarly, President Bhandari opined for developing the curriculum that could promote the respect and responsibility towards the senior citizens needed for the civilized society.
President opined for managing old-age friendly transportation vehicles and other infrastructures for the senior citizens
She argued for arranging pilgrimages for them. President Bhandari expressed dissatisfaction on the increasing tradition of keeping the children in hostels and the senior citizens in the old age homes keeping them away from the family.
Speaking in the same programme, CPN (UML) leader and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal urged all to respect their parents.
The Manmohan Memorial Foundation chair and lawmaker Bharat Mohan Adhikari urged the government to run the hospital for senior citizens in each seven provinces.
On the occasion, 22 senior citizens of over 100 years old were feted.
The Festival is organised by the Manmohan Memorial Foundation on the occasion of the 26th International Day of Older Persons. It is organised at the premises of the Jain Bhawan.
One thousand eight hundred and seven male and 1200 female senior citizens above 70 years from the 13 districts of the Province Number 1 are attending the gathering, according to the organizing committee. RSS (Photos available)
