Sham Lal Sharma calls for greater social responsibility towards the welfare and dignity of senior citizens

• Senior Citizens Day celebrated with enthusiasm at Golden’s Day Care & Recreation Centre, Lower Roop Nagar

JAMMU: Senior Citizens Day was celebrated with enthusiasm at Golden’s Day Care & Recreation Centre for Senior Citizens, Lower Roop Nagar, Jammu, with cultural programmes, health-awareness sessions and interactive activities highlighting the importance of dignity, social participation and the overall wellbeing of senior citizens.

Sham Lal Sharma, MLA Jammu North, who was the Chief Guest, appreciated the efforts of the Centre in providing senior citizens with a caring, respectful and vibrant social environment. He said that the welfare of senior citizens must remain an important priority of society, particularly at a time when changing family structures and the fast pace of modern life can leave many elderly persons facing challenges related to social isolation, companionship, health and reduced participation in community life. He emphasized that senior citizens need not merely assistance, but also respect, emotional support, meaningful engagement and the opportunity to live with dignity.

Sharma said that senior citizens are the repository of experience, wisdom and values, and their contribution to society cannot be measured merely in material terms. He called upon families, community organisations and institutions to work collectively to ensure that elderly persons remain socially connected, active and valued members of society. He appreciated Golden’s Day Care & Recreation Centre for creating a platform where senior citizens can interact, participate in cultural and recreational activities and benefit from health-awareness initiatives.

He further stressed the need for a broader and more compassionate approach towards senior citizen welfare, including greater awareness about preventive healthcare, regular health check-ups, accessible public spaces, social interaction and community support systems. Sharma said that caring for the elderly is not the responsibility of any one institution alone, but a collective social responsibility. He expressed his solidarity with the Centre’s efforts and assured his support for initiatives aimed at improving the dignity, happiness, health and quality of life of senior citizens.

Prominent persons who spoke on the occasion included Shri Raj Kumar Kohli, Shri Tilak Raj Sharma, Shri Prem Raj Shan and Shri Ramesh Magotra, who highlighted the importance of community participation and continued support for the welfare of senior citizens. The celebration featured cultural programmes, health-awareness sessions and interactive activities, providing the elderly participants an opportunity to come together, interact and celebrate the occasion in a warm and positive atmosphere. The management of Golden’s Day Care & Recreation Centre reiterated its commitment to the happiness, dignity and welfare of senior citizens, describing them as the guiding light of society.

During the programme, forthcoming infrastructure requirements of the Centre were also placed before the Hon’ble MLA for consideration, including installation of PP tiles in the front ground and allied works through his CDF, along with installation of ESCL lights in the premises of Golden’s Day Care & Recreation Centre by the Jammu Municipal Corporation. These proposed works are aimed at improving the Centre’s infrastructure and creating a safer, more comfortable and accessible environment for senior citizens.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks to all dignitaries, guests and participants. The celebration conveyed a strong social message that the dignity and wellbeing of senior citizens are integral to the welfare of society, and that a truly progressive and compassionate society is one that respects its elders, values their contribution and ensures that they continue to feel included, supported and valued.