NEPAL: Stress Laid on Rights and Care of Elderly

. KATHMANDU, Nepal / The Rising Nepal / June 17, 2007: Concern has been expressed over the issue of the rights of the senior citizens and the issue of social security being thrown into the backburner despite the topic that proportional representation is necessary in every sector having become the most talked-about matter in the present situation. Participants of the discussion programme on 'Human rights of the senior citizens and social security' organised by Sankalp Nepal here today expressed this view. Sankalp Nepal is an organisation working in the field of senior citizens welfare. Kathmandu street scene. Illustrative photo by courtesy: Alfred Molon Speakers called for providing additional freedom and concessions to the senior citizens. Nepal has 1,600,000 senior citizens. This is 6.5 per cent of the total population. And this number is going up annually. A majority of those who have reached mature age after many hardships have become a burden and nuisance for the family and a neglected lot, it was emphasised. Government, civil society, the family and senior citizens must work together to find solutions. Speaker Subash Chandra Nemwang said a process should be immediately established to recognise and tap the talents, experience and capabilities of senior citizens. Chairman Bharat Mohan Adhikary felt government, civil society and the public must seek practical solutions to problems of senior citizens. Sankalp Nepal Chairperson Kamala Parajuli noted that many senior citizens now suffer hardships after 12 years of armed conflict. Psychosocial, economic and health conditions of the elderly deserve close attention. Other speakers were Ghanshyam Poudel, Ph.D. in social security; Maiya Devi Shrestha, an elderly woman thrown out of home; Sundar Mani Dixit; and human rights activist Sushil Pyakurel. © Copyright 2006. Gorkhapatra Sansthan.