From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Oct 1: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai lamented the rise in the number of old age homes in the State and said it is necessary to utilise the wealth of experience of the elders as also enable them to lead a dignified life.
Participating in the World Senior Citizens Day celebrations organised by the Senior Citizens and Physically Challenged Persons’ Empowerment Department at the Ravindra Kalakshetra on Saturday, he said the vast pool of senior citizens in the State and the country must be gainfully utilised to benefit from their experience and energy.
The State Government is committed to take the help of senior citizens and seek their suggestions to the extent possible and utilise. This will not affect the younger generation but give enable the senior citizens to lead a dignified life, he said making it clear that the government’s decision to utilise the experience of elders would not come in the way of youth, who will be accorded priority in filling up vacant posts or new recruitments.
Bommai said the government will ask all departments to work out plans to utilise the energy, knowledge and experience of the senior citizens.
It is unfortunate that the number of old age homes are on the increase with elders from even 5000-year-old traditional families being shunted to old age homes in the evening of their lives, the Chief Minister said and urged the younger generation to pay the debt of gratitude to their elders and treat them in humanitarian ways.
Bommai said the State Government was keen to take steps to ensure better health care and treatment facilities to the aged people and has taken several steps to improve their lot, including increase in the old age pension and other facilities.
The Chief Minister urged the people, particularly the younger generation to cultivate healthy habits and engage themselves in regular physical exercises. Sedentary lifestyles and continuous preoccupation with work, computers, IPads or Smart Phones as well as eating junk foods was dangerous and harmful. If we take care of ourselves, we can lead a healthy and active life, he said.
Ministers V Somanna, Halappa Achar, Shankar Patil Munenakoppa and MLAs Uday Garudachar, Ravi Subramanya and others attended the function.