SCWAL organises function to commemorate World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Ludhiana, June 15, 2017: Senior Citizens’ Welfare Association Ludhiana (SCWAL) organized a function today to commemorate World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Rotary Bhawan, Sarabha Nagar, Ludhiana. It was attended by more than 350 senior citizens which included members of SCWAL as well as those from the other sister organizations in Ludhiana as well as other cities in the state.
Sardar Ravneet Singh Bittu, MP, was the Chief Guest on the occasion. While addressing the audience, he termed the present generation of senior citizens as makers of modern Punjab for having played a remarkable role in bringing green revolution in the country as well as in the industrial development. He opined that the senior citizens deserve all help from the society as well as the government to lead a comfortable and dignified life. He promised to take up the issues concerning Senior Citizens’ Welfare with the Punjab Government as well as the Central Government. Besides, he assured all help in getting office accommodation and other facilities to enable SCWAL to carry out its activities more appropriately and efficiently.
Earlier, Er. Balbir Singh, President, SCWAL, while welcoming Sardar Ravneet Singh Bittu, Chief Guest, Mrs. Mamta Ashu, Dr. S.S. Johal and Dr. Tejpreet Kaur Kang, Key-note Speaker and all other present on the occasion, gave a brief account of SCWAL activities since its inception in the year 2010. He also brought to the notice of the chief guest that the welfare work by SCWAL is hampered owing to the non-availability of space/office accommodation.
Sh. S.P. Karkara, Chairman, SCWAL & President, FEDSEN, spelt out the problems faced by the senior citizens, particularly those belonging to poor families. Referring to the promises made by the Congress party in its election manifesto during recent Assembly Elections, he pleaded for enhancing the amount of Old Age Pension to at least Rs. 2000 per month, besides fulfilling all other promises made for the welfare of the senior citizens. He also handed over List of Senior Citizens Issues, concerning the state and the central government, to the Chief Guest.
In her Keynote address, Dr. Tejpreet Kaur Kang, Prof. & Head, Department of Human Development & Family Studies, College of Home Science, PAU, Ludhiana, discussed in detail the problem of elder abuse while spelling out reasons for increasing incidence of this problem and suggested possible ways to tackle the situation.
Dr. S.S. Johal, Chancellor, Central University, Bathinda, shared his views about inter-generational problems and suggested that the same can be resolved through a spirit of accommodation by both sides.
Er R S Behal, Secretary General FEDSEN got a Directory of FEDERATION OF SENIOR CITIZENS’ ASSOCIATIONS PUNJAB released by the Chief Guest on this occasion. Mr Yashpal Bangia presented to the Chief Guest books written by him on senior citizens. Mrs Neelam Khosla, Vice President SCWAL sang a song about senior citizens being an asset to the society. Er S K Seth, Organizing Secretary, SCWAL proposed Vote of Thanks. Dr Inder Mohan Chhibba General Secretary SCWAL managed the stage efficiently. Meeting ended with singing of National Anthem.