“Solitude need not be your friend..”– Hon’ble Mr Justice Dipak Misra, Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman National Legal Services Authority

Seminar for Senior Citizens organized by Haryana State Legal Services Authority at MRIU leaves a deep impact across all age groups!

A thought-provoking Seminar on Welfare of Senior Citizens: Issues, Challenges and Way Forward’ organized by Haryana State Legal Services Authority struck an instant chord with panel lawyers, law students, senior citizens, members of NGOs and academicians at Manav Rachna International University Campus here today. The programme based on themes and sub themes such as ‘Issues relating to neglect and maltreatment of senior citizens and the relevant law’, ‘Programmes and policies relating to senior citizens’ and ‘NALSA (Legal Services to Senior Citizens Scheme, 2016) was based on the need for a very holistic approach to ensure that senior citizens get their entitlements under the welfare schemes and the law of the land.

What further gave the event a humane touch was the ‘You are not Alone’ campaign launched by Chief Guest Hon’ble Mr Justice Dipak Misra, Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman National Legal Services Authority wherein 21 District Legal services authorities shall implement the said project with various activities for a period of 10 days across Haryana state under the guidance and supervision of Haryana State Legal Services Authority to sensitize senior citizens about the welfare laws, schemes and their entitlements. Today itself, more than 50 camps have been held across Haryana state.

Speaking at the Seminar, Chief Guest Hon’ble Mr Justice Dipak Misra, said, “Senior citizens have a right to raise their voices against any wrong doings since silence is not the best answer—reaction is. While the number of Senior Citizens is increasing in the current scenario given the advancement of medical science, it is also true that life is for living and every effort should be made by society and the legal system to ensure that senior citizens get justice at every stage. Older persons should be able to live in dignity and security and should be free from exploitation, mental and physical abuse. They need not go through life’s battles and problems all on their own as NALSA, district legal authorities and para volunteers will be there to assist the elderly in their hour of need.”    

While Hon’ble Shri Inderjeet Mehta, District and Sessions Judge cum Chairman of District Legal Services authority, Faridabad, delivered the welcome address in which he talked about Senior Citizens being “the real heroes”, the Seminar’s inaugural session also witnessed Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal, Judge, High Court of Punjab & Haryana & Executive Chairman, HALSA stating, “The issue of welfare of Senior Citizens is neglected by all and hence the need for this seminar.” Prof. Rajesh Gill, Department of Sociology, Punjab University, Chandigarh who also spoke on the occasion said it was important for Senior Citizens to age gracefully and actively participate in routine life besides cultivating hobbies and being tolerant and patient.   

Also present at the Seminar were Shri Sameer Pal Srow, Deputy Commissioner, Faridabad; Dr Hanif Qureshi, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Faridabad; Shri Amardeep Jain, SDM, Ballabgarh; Dr Prashant Bhalla, President, MREI; Dr Amit Bhalla, Vice President, MREI; Sh. T.P. Madhukumar, Deputy Secretary, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment;  Dr. Mina Chandra, Psychiatrist, Department of Psychiatry PGIMER & Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi; Sh. Mohit Aggarwal, Chief Judicial Magistrate-cum-Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Panipat; by Sh. Abhay Partap Singh, Assistant Professor, Law Department, Delhi University,  among others.

The sensitization programme at the Seminar was greeted with much zeal and enthusiasm.