World Elder Abuse Awareness week DLSA Bandipora organizes awareness program, Painting competition
Bandipora, June 08: Secretary District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Bandipora Iqbal Ahmad Akhoon on Tuesday inaugurated the week long activities to observe the World Elder Abuse Awareness week.
On the inaugural day DLSA organized an awareness program regarding the Abuse of senior citizens. The Program was chaired by Secretary DLSa Iqbal Ahmad Akhoon while Deputy Chief Education Officer Rafiq Ahmad Parray, District Social Welfare Officer Altaf Ahmad, Medical Superintendent Dr Syed-ur-Rehgman, President District Bar Association MAsood Ahmad Bhat besides senior citizens and students from various schools attended the program.
Stressing on sensitizing the society about the ill treatment o the senior citizens, Secretary DLSA Iqbal Ahmad Akhoon said there is a need to acknowledge the issue and roll our heads to find a solution to it. He said besides laws, there is religious, social, humanitarian and ethical obligation everyone to respect the senior citizens and join hands to make thgeir lives comfortable. He said the senior citizens are the people who brought up the new generation and it is the time to return the favors by making their life convenient, comfortable and hassle-free with dignity by taking care of their health and day to day needs.
He said that the aim of observing the week is to acknowledge the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue. He said people across the district will be made aware about the sacrifices of the elders in bringing up the generation and make the visibility of elder abuse by organizing events to share information and promote resources and services that can help increase seniors’ safety and well-being.
He said a range of events are being organised during the week across the district to mobilize community action and engage people in discussions on how to promote dignity and respect of older adults.
Giving details he said on the inaugural day on June 11, District Level consultative meet will be held titled “Age care issues: Need and problems of senior citizens and elders abuses and its implications”.
Medical Superintendent Dr Syed-ur-Rehman highlighted the issues being faced by the elder people during old age and stressed on the younger generation to take care of the health issues of their elders in the family.
District Bar Prsident Masood Ahmad Bhat highlighted the laws in place to ensure the safety, dignity and security of the elder people and avoid the abuse of elder and senior citizens. He urged the senior citizens to take seek legal help if they feel their rights are being abused by the younger generations.
Several speakers spoke on the occasion and discussed various aspects of the theme and urged the younger generation to respect the senior citizens and lend a helping hand to thtem to make their life peaceful.
Later drawing competition was also held at Government Boys High School Bagh in which 34 students participated and draw theme based drawings. Five teams of Boys and Girls also participated in quiz competition which was won by girls.
An official said during the week-long programs, sensitization program on challenges faced by senior citizens jail inmates will also be held besides an orientation programme for educationists on strengthening inter-generational bonding at several colleges during the week. Painting competitions, quiz competition, slogan writing theme, humorous Mushira, Skit Qawali, Self Defence Demo for elderly persons will also be held during the week long program.
