INDIA: Senior Citizens’ Forum To Set Up Parks

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Kerala (The Hindu), February 11, 2008: The Senior Citizen Friends Welfare Association will take the initiative to set up parks meant for the elderly in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode. The decision was announced here at a meeting convened by the association to discuss the problems and concerns of senior citizens in the city on Sunday. The funds for constructing the parks will be mobilised from the public through the sale of a special Rs.25 stamp. J. Chandra, president of the association, called for the practice of enforcing 10 per cent of seats in public transport services for the elderly on the same lines of reserving seats for women in buses. Geriatric units Ms. Chandra also stressed on the need for creating separate geriatric units in hospitals to provide personalised attention to the elderly. The medical practitioners and their support staff should be knowledgeable about the problems of the old. “Our offices and hospital buildings should also have ramps to enable hassle-free access to the elderly,” she said. Yet another issue raised during the meeting was the height of footboard in buses which makes it difficult for the elderly to alight the vehicles. Opening up of special ‘senior citizens’ counter’ in railway stations for buying tickets too was suggested. V. Shantharam, Director, Women’s Commission, who inaugurated the meeting, called for a change in attitude of society towards the elderly. According to him there should be at least one senior citizen in every elected body to voice the demands and concerns of the community. Lida Jacob, former Secretary, Social Welfare, and chief patron of the association, said the health insurance scheme had been extended to citizens above the age of sixty years. “Health of the elderly is no longer in the hands of their children but in their own hands. You should alter your lifestyle and devote more time for exercises,” she said. Copyright © 2008, The Hindu.