Bandipora, Mar 9: The Department of Social Welfare (DSW) in Bandipora held a day-long event titled “Rights of Senior Citizens” at the Conference Hall of the District Drug De-Addiction Centre in Bandipora.
Among the participating entities were the District Hub for Empowerment of Women (DHEW), Sakhi One Stop Centre Bandipora, Senior Citizens Home Bandipora, JKSWM and the District Drug De-Addiction Centre Bandipora.
Additionally, students from several schools, ICDS Workers, ASHA Workers, Civil Society Members and other stakeholders engaged in the event.
The programme aimed to shed light on the rights and welfare of senior citizens, with informative sessions and discussions led by speakers. Abdul Gani Bhat, Chairperson of the District Development Council Bandipora, and Kounsar Shafeeq, Vice Chairperson of DDC Bandipora, addressed the audience, emphasizing the significance of supporting and protecting the elderly in society.
District Social Welfare Officer, Sahir Majeed, highlighted various aspects of senior citizens’ rights, while TSWO Bandipora, Akhlaq Hussain, underscored the importance of elder welfare institutions. Adv. Mudasir Nazir, Counselor at DDAC, provided insights into the legal dimensions of senior citizens’ rights, focusing on pertinent laws and regulations.
Moreover, Shabeena Akher, Youth Trainer, delved into the maintenance and welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007, elucidating its provisions and implications. Jawhar Ahmad, Coordinator, JKSWM, emphasised the necessity of strengthening elder welfare institutions for the well-being of the elderly population.
Addressing critical social issues, Afshana Hassan, Counselor at OSC Bandipora, spoke about domestic violence, highlighting its impact on senior citizens. As a gesture of appreciation and respect, momentos were distributed among all the guests, acknowledging their valuable contributions to the event.