Stressing the importance of parental care and respect for senior citizens, S. Subbiah, Vice-Chancellor, Alagappa University, said “a decline in the number of Homes for the Aged will be a sure indicator of increasing humanism.”
Addressing a function organised by the Department of Lifelong Learning to celebrate Senior Citizens Day here on Thursday, he said there were 300 Homes catering to the needs of senior citizens in Tamil Nadu and only when the number decreased, one could conclude that humanitarian outlook had increased.
“Caring for the aged with concern and being kind to them will be the real respect one could pay to the senior citizens,” he said and honoured teaching and non-teaching staff who had retired from the university.
Speaking on the occasion, A. Kaliyamurthy, former Superintendent of Police, Tiruchi, said senior citizens were revered and respected as ‘demi Gods’ in joint families in olden days and the scenario had changed drastically since then.
Citing a study by HelpAge India, he said a whopping 56 per cent of sons failed to take care of their aged parents and 23 per cent of daughter-in-laws neglected their mother-in-laws.
As much as 32 per cent of youth do not care for the elders, he said quoting the study.
SM Ramasamy and P. Subas Chandra Bose, Syndicate members of the University, offered felicitations.
V. Balachandran, Registrar (in charge) and N. Arunachalam, Head, Department of Lifelong Learning, and others attended the function.
