To mark International Day of Older Persons, more than 100 senior-citizens, volunteers of HelpAge India, from Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Puducherry and Quilon, are in the capital to take part in ‘Intergenerational Bonding Walkathon’ on October 1, Monday.
The group of senior citizens boarded the train at Puducherry Railway Station on Wednesday. The train was flagged off by Puducherry Collector S. B. Deepak Kumar.
On their en route to New Delhi, they were received at the Chennai Egmore Railway Station by P. R. Anbazhakan, Director, HelpAge India (Tamil Nadu and Karnataka), and M. Thillai Rajan, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Railways, Chennai Egmore.
Demands
Speaking on the occasion, G. Ramalingam, volunteer, HelpAge India, Puducherry, said, ‘We will be submitting a memorandum to the Union Minister of State, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, and Prime Minister`s Office, V. Narayanaswamy, to sensitise the Government about the needs of senior citizens.’
The demands in the memorandum include a national health programme for senior-citizens, free bus and train pass, health insurance, free mid-day meals, inclusion of elderly persons under National Rural Livelihood Mission, and constituting National Commission and Welfare Board for Senior Citizens in each State.
The group will meet President of India Pranab Mukherjee and visit heritage sites in Haridwar, Rishikesh, Allahabad, Varnasi, Mathura, and Agra before returning to Chennai on October 5, Friday.
He said the cooperation of Government and citizens, especially the younger generation was required to create an environment where older persons get respect, care and affection.
On December 14, 1990, the United Nations General Assembly declared October 1 to be commemorated as the International Day of Older Persons.
HelpAge India, a non-government organisation, works for the cause and care of displaced senior-citizens since its inception in the year 1978. The organisation has had a positive impact on the lives of eight million senior-citizens and their families.