Gaiety marks International Day of Older Persons in hyderabad city

Hyderabad: The International Day of Older Persons is observed in the month of October, every year as per the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on December 14, 1990. This day is celebrated by raising awareness about issues affecting the elderly as elder abuse, besides to appreciate the contributions that older people make to society.

The International Day of Older Persons - 2019 celebrations were hosted by Heritage Foundation Regional Resource & Training Centre and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, at Hari Hara Kala Bhavan on Friday. Chief guest Dr H C Sridhara Reddy, Deputy Director (Trg. & Old Age Care), National Institute of Social Defence, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India; inaugurated the meet.

Also present were guests of honour Inder Balla, president of All India Senior Citizens Federation, V Mohan Reddy, ex-MLA & president of Senior Citizens Federation and Member of Telangana State Council on Older Persons, Lion P Ravindranath Gupta mjf, Lions District Governor 320C, Lion Jagan Mohan Reddy, former Lions District Governor 320C, and K R Gangadharan, founder of Heritage Foundation.

'The Journey to Age Equality' is this year's theme. The 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognise that development will only be achievable if it is inclusive of all ages. Empowering older persons in all dimensions of development, including promoting their active participation in the social, economic and political lives is one way to ensure their inclusiveness and reduce inequalities.

The 2019 theme is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10. The theme aims to "ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome," including through measures to eliminate discrimination, and to "empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status." Often, disparities in old age reflect an accumulated disadvantage characterized by factors such as: location, gender, socio‐economic status, health, income etc.

As they are many elderly in our society living in pathetic condition and also no one is there to listen to them. Even the elderly have equal rights to live a peaceful life in the society. As the nation was built by our senior citizens and they are a gold mine of knowledge and experience.

Now it is time to vent their difficulties, needs and the abuse faced by them, welcome a helping hand by solving their problem so that they can live decent life, pointed out Inder Bhalla, President of All India Senior Citizens, Telangana. P Ravindranath Gupta, Lions District Governor 320C, said: "Usually they are made to understand they are a burden to the family and society without giving a thought they have strolled day and night so to up bring us so that we get a good education, food, and good schooling. As the theme of the International day of older is 'The journey to age equality'."

"Empowering the older persons in all dimensions of development, including promoting their active participation in the social, economic and political lives is one way to ensure their inclusiveness and reduce inequality. To reflect on the best practice, lessons, and progress on the journey to ending older age inequality and changing negative narratives and stereotypes involving older age," said Dr HC Sridhara Reddy, National Institute of Social Defence.

Over 600 senior citizens participated in a walkathon to mark the day. The walkathon was organised from Mahboob College to Hari Hara Kala Bhavan in Secunderabad. Over 200 schoolchildren joined in it and cheered the senior citizens.