One Day Sensitization Programme on Senior citizens Act organized in Samba

Samba : National Institute of Social Defence, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India and Anugraha Regional Resource and Training Centre on Ageing, in collaboration with J&K Legal Services Authority and District Legal Services Authority Samba on Monday organised a one day Sensitization Cum Awareness Program on the effective implementation of “The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.”

Sonia Gupta, Chairman District Legal Services Authority Samba (also Pr. District and Sessions Judge Samba) was the chief guest and Anuradha Gupta, Deputy Commissioner Samba and Abhishek Mahajan, Senior Superintendent of Police samba were the guests of honor.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Guest stressed upon the participating police functionaries and students from the Dogra Law College Samba and other senior citizens as to how the long cherished traditions with respect to the respect and the value of senior citizens are degrading day by day and how this Act of 2007 is effective in immediate redressal of the grievances of the elderly people and how the different stakeholders can contribute with respect to issues and challenges being faced by the senior citizens.

The Deputy Commissioner Samba, in her address, apprised the participants about the prevalent schemes which exist for the welfare of the senior citizens and how the senior citizens of District Samba can come forward and take the benefits of the same.

The Senior Superintendent of Police Samba assured the people to provide every possible help to the people of District Samba whenever they will approach his office. Durga Dass, Retd. Joint Registrar, High court of J&K and also one of the senior citizens thanked the efforts made by Deputy Commissioner Samba for the welfare of Senior Citizens and requested her to take more steps for the betterment of the people of District Samba.

Rekha Kapoor Nischal, Secretary District Legal Services Authority Samba, in her welcome address gave an overview of the program and vote of thanks was presented by Poonam Gupta, Ld. Munsiff Samba. The inaugural session was followed by four technical sessions.

Poonam Gupta, Ld. Munsiff Samba was the resource person in the first session, Versha Anthal, Panel Advocate, District Legal Services Authority Samba was the resource person in the second session, Priyanka Gupta Legal Cum Probationary Officer, Mission Vatsalya, District Child Protection Unit Samba was the resource person in the third session and Davinder Attri, Community Health Officer Samba was the resource person in the final session and all the sessions were chaired by Rekha Kapoor Nischal, Secretary District Legal Services Authority Samba.

The inaugural session was attended by Addl. SP Samba, Surinder Choudhary, District Social Welfare officer Samba, Deep Kumar police functionaries, senior citizens, Faculty Members and Senior students from Dogra Law College, representatives from Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare, Panel Advocates and PLVs of DLSA Samba.

While speaking on the occasion in the first session, the resource person deliberated upon the historical background, the purpose behind The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2017 and the issues and challenges w.r.t the effective implementation of this Act whereas the Secretary DLSA Samba throw light upon how the Act of 2007 is different from other Laws which exists for the welfare of senior citizens.

While addressing the participants in the second session, the resource person spoke on different Constitutional as well as Legal Rights for the protection of the senior citizens as well as the NALSA Schemes of 2016 for the welfare of the elder people where the Secretary DLSA Samba sensitized the participants police functionaries about their role whenever any senior citizen approaches them in the police station.

While speaking in the third session, the resource person deliberated upon different Schemes of the Department of Social Welfare Samba, the role of the Social Welfare Department under the Act of 2007.

She also shared the Elderly Helpline Number 14567 with the participants Whereas Secretary DLSA Samba spoke about free Legal Aid services provided to the senior citizens as per J&K Regulations and the existence of different Old Age Homes in J&K

While speaking in the last session, the resource person gave a PowerPoint presentation and threw light upon the initiatives of the Department of Health Samba in providing special medical care both (Geriatric and Tertiary) to the senior citizens.

The vote of thanks was proposed by Secretary, DLSA Samba and the proceedings of the program were conducted by Hitesh Sharma, Panel Advocate DLSA Samba.