Elderly persons honoured on their day
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 01 2013:
Things will become easier for old people in Manipur soon as the state government of Manipur has initiated a policy for their welfare, Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai has assured.
Speaking on the occasion of observing International Day of Older Persons, 2013 at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen here today, Mirabai informed that the State Government has recently initiated a policy and set up appellate tribunals for elderly people in all the districts so that all these people, who have been forced out from their homes by their own children, can get suitable compensation through these proposed courts.
The Minister went on to inform that the Social Welfare Department has so far given pension to 72, 514 aged persons in the state under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension scheme and another 45, 905 persons have availed pension under the State's own similar scheme.
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Admitting that elderly people are facing increasing harassment and maltreatment from their own children in the state, Mirabai said this type of ill-treatment meted out to their own old parents is nothing but cruelty.
She also called for a joint effort of the Government and the public to mitigate cases of elderly people in the state who have been victimised by their own children.
She further informed a total of 16 Old Age Homes have been kept open by the Government in the all the nine districts of the state to nurture older people.
Many older persons from different parts of the state were honoured by presenting shawls on the occasion.
Md Fajur Rahim, Chairman of WAKF Board, Manipur, MLA of Yaiskul A/C E Chand, Director of Social Welfare L Ibobi, Chairperson of Manipur State Women Commission Dr L Ibetombi and Chairperson of Manipur State Protection of Child Rights A Nabachandra were also present on the occasion as Presidium members.
Organised under the aegis of State Social Welfare Department, today's observance function was held under the theme of "The Future We Want; What Older Persons are Saying" .
On the other hand, in connection with the International Day of Older Persons, Shija Hospitals organised a free health check up camp for senior citizens (60 years and above) today.
Investigations like blood sugar, blood pressure, hearing test and consultation facilities for Medicine, Eye, ENT, General Surgery, Dental, Dietetics & Nutrition and Ortho were offered free of cost during the said camp.