Two Day National Workshop on “The Old Age: A Blessing or A Burden” held at Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi, in collaboration with the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India successfully concluded highlighting Senior Citizen Welfare, Legal Rights, and Intergenerational Bonding on Friday.
Critical aspects of senior citizen welfare, including government policies, the role of senior citizen associations, the importance of intergenerational bonding, and legal frameworks for protection were discussed in detail on the second day. Earlier, Dr Joseph Marianus Kujur, Director, XISS had highlighted three key aspects of this issue: the challenges of getting old, general factors influencing individual ageing, and the socio-economic dimensions, and emphasised that it needed everyone’s attention now.
Tanya Sengupta, NISD, provided a comprehensive overview of the National Policy, Acts, Schemes, and Programmes for the Welfare of Senior Citizens. Discussions also touched upon the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, and the ongoing efforts to amend it. Sushila Gupta, CEO, Senior Citizen Home, Ranchi, discussed importance of promoting Day Care Centres as a valuable resource for senior citizens. Ensuring a supportive environment for the elderly is Intergenerational Bonding, and its key factors were discussed by Dr Sharda Singh, Assistant Professor, XISS during the session.
The legal rights and protection mechanisms available to senior citizens were addressed in the session on How Tribunals Work Under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (MWPSC) Act, 2007, and was led by Dr Indrani Ghatak, Assistant Professor, XISS. She also discussed the functioning of Maintenance and Appellate Tribunals in addressing the physical, emotional, and financial needs of senior citizens.
The day concluded with a take-away and way forward sessions led by Dr Sant Kr. Prasad and Dr Uma C. Saha, followed by a Vote of Thanks and Certificate Distribution by Dr Saha and Aayurshi Sahay. The workshop aimed to foster a broader understanding of old age, promote intergenerational dialogue, and identify practical tools and resources to support elderly individuals.
