the goan I network
PANAJI
The All India Senior Citizens Confederation (AISCCON) began its 15th annual two-day national conference at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, Bambolim. The conference was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Dr Francis D’Souza. Around 1,400 delegates from all over India and 13 delegates
from Nepal are attending the conference.
Addressing the gathering of senior citizens, D’Souza stated, “One has to age gracefully. Retirement is a way of making space for younger workforce. But the older persons with wisdom and experience have so much to give back to society. No one is too old to be productive and a lot of issues can be resolved by changing one’s mindset about the natural process of ageing.”
Insisting that Goa is the best welfare state in India, D’Souza highlighted various social welfare schemes of the Goa government that are benefitting senior citizens including the Dayanand Social Security Scheme benefitting 1.36 lakh people, senior citizens card for transportation and so on.
Stressing on the need to focus on ‘preventive medicine,’ the DyCM stated, “Almost 12 crore Indians are senior citizens. Illnesses are a result of the busy life we have led so far and hence we need to focus on our health.”
He informed that the Deendayal Swsthya Seva Yojana, which is currently on the cards, aims at covering all Goans under the umbrella of mediclaim and said, “Productivity comes from health.”
AISCCON bestowed its honorary membership upon DyCM D’Souza.
D S Chapke, president of AISCCON, in his welcome address drew the attention of the gathering to the National Policy for Older Persons and Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.
“A committee was instituted by the central government in 2011 to revise the National Policy, 1999 but the new policy is yet to be released. On the other hand, the Maintenance Act is not implemented in many States,” stated Chapke.
It was resolved that the gathering will press for a new national policy and will host a decennial meeting next year in order to update the Maintenance Act.
He said that there is a need for healthcare insurance for all and also to upgrade the scale of old age pension. A demand for daycare centers across the country was
also raised.
President of Forum for Senior Citizens of India, Goa Unit Diego D’Costa, vice rpesident of AISCCON Alka Vyas, HelpAge India head Prakash Porgaokar were among those present on the dais.
The conference aims to deliberate on issues faced by senior citizens and to seek resolution of these. The two-day event is expected to see the participation of Vijai Sardesai, Sudin Dhavalikar, Dayanand Mandrekar and Digambar Kamat among others.
