“The elder citizens apart from supporting their families, should also concentrate on being economically independent,” opined Principal District and Sessions Court Judge Mohan Sripad Sankolli, who is also the Chairman of District Legal Services Authority.

He was speaking after inaugurating the seminar on elderly citizens rights, jointly organised by Mysore District legal services Authority, Physically disabled and Senior Citizens Empowerment department, Karnataka State Daily Wage Workers Association and other associations/organisations, at Sriranga Vedike, Ranagyana premises, on Hunsur road in city this morning.

“We cannot take for granted that our children stay with us in our oldage. As such, it is better if we think positively about living in old age,” he said while reminding the adage “birth is accidental, death is certain.”

Pointing out that the growth of civilisation is measured on the ways of treating the aged and woman, Judge Sankolli observed that treating elders with respect too is as important as the society’s betterment and economic development. Although, age related ailments posed problems earlier, the situation has improved now with rapid advancement in the health sector. All the elders, children, grand-children and other kith and kin should learn to treat each other with respect. One should realise that though houses are externally built with bricks, the atmosphere within it is created out of the mingling of hearts, he remarked.

Noting that elder citizens need not feel dejected for being dependent on some occasions, Judge Sankolli stressed the role of life partners in leading the fag end of their lives.

Calling upon the elder citizens not to feel disappointed at retirement and suggested the senior citizens to involve in useful activities in order to keep themselves engaged. Principal Senior Civil Judge B. Nandakumar too spoke on the occasion.

Women and Child Welfare Department Deputy Director N.R. Vijay, Karnataka Workers and Daily Wage Employees Association President P. Rajappa, Academician M.N. Gopalan and others were present. A total of 30 senior citizens were distributed senior citizen ID cards.

Senior citizens H.C. Swamy, N.R. Shankar Rao, Shyamalamurthy, Dr. H.K. Ramanath, Painter L. Shivalingappa were felicitated on the occasion.

Courtesy : Star Of Mysore