FOCUS ON SENIOR CITIZENS IN COMING WEEKS 1. As in previous years Chandigarh Senior Citizens' Association has drawn up elaborate plans for the month

FOCUS ON SENIOR CITIZENS IN COMING WEEKS

1. As in previous years Chandigarh Senior Citizens' Association has drawn up elaborate plans for the month of September in the run-up to Senior Citizens’ Day which falls on 01 October.

2. The programme includes a large number of medical camps, gala events, and a Brisk Walking Competition. In order to sensitize the youth to special needs of older persons and to bridge the generation divide, functions have also been planned in schools and an inter-College debate at DAV College, Sector 10. (Detailed programme attached).

3. Two functions which have traditionally drawn massive turnout of older persons are the Brisk Walking competition followed by interaction with IG Police, scheduled on 24^th September, and the Grand Finale at Govt College for Girls on 01 October

4. The aim of organizing the annual event, said Maj Gen (Retd) MS Kandal, President of the Association, while addressing a press conference called to launch the programme this morning, is to focus and sustain the attention of society and the Administration to the special needs of the older persons and the role they can and do continue to play for the good of the Community.

5. Among the welfare programmes and services run by the Association are:

· Project Shravanika, under which young persons adopt and care for older members.

· Project Vanita, under which the Association has set up “clubs” for destitute old women residing in the colonies.

· Five state-of-the-art physiotherapy centres, two acupressure centres, a Reiki centre and two yoga centres for free treatment to all senior citizens. Over 30,000 persons have benefited from these services in the last one year.

· A training centre, in collaboration with Khukhrain Biradari, to spread computer literacy among senior citizens and underprivileged youth.

· Partnership programmes initiated by the Administration especially in the areas of education, environment and drug awareness.

6. The Association, registered in 1996, has over 1250 members as on date but its facilities and services are available to ALL senior citizens, whether or not they are members of the Association.

(DS Grewal)

01 September 2009 Secretary General