The First Senior Citizens Conference was held on Sunday at Ravindra Bhavan and various issues pertaining to senior citizens like government schemes etc were discussed.
The function was inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, while the Minister for Social Welfare, Mr Ramkrishna Dhavalikar presided over the valedictory function.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kamat said that the government is sensitive to the problems of senior citizens and that it will try to meet the demands on a priority basis.
He further said that no government can afford to ignore the senior citizens as they form 8 per cent of the electorate, which is a very considerable figure and is growing each day.
The Chief Minister also said that the government is in the process of creating a pension scheme for journalists, who have retired, on the lines of the scheme for artists and require financial assistance.
He said that the government already has a scheme in place for artists, who require financial aid. The conference was organised by the Lions Club of Margao Service Trust in association with Directorate of Social Welfare, Directorate of Art and Culture and State Bank of India. Speaking at the valedictory function, Mr Dhavlikar said that the government is in the process of formulating a law to prevent the children from throwing their parents out of the house.
He said that within the next 15 days the new law will be ready and will be presented during the next session of the state assembly. The Minister for Social Welfare also said that the government is formulating another law to protect the interest of widows by providing them protection under the framework of law besides financial assistance. He also said that the social welfare department will assist issueless but financially sound senior citizens help in getting their requirements from market etc from time to time so they live a good life.
-NT
