On the occasion of Senior Citizens’ Day, the Jammu & Kashmir Civil Society Forum (JKCSF) and J&K Peoples’ Unity Forum (JKPUF) voiced strong concern over the continued neglect of elders in the Union Territory.
In a joint statement, the organisations said it was “most unfortunate” that although the Senior Citizens Act was passed in J&K in 2017, it has not been implemented till date, leaving elders deprived of basic facilities and rights already available in other parts of the country.
They pointed out that even the issuance of Senior Citizen Cards by District Social Welfare Offices has not been ensured. At key institutions such as airports, civil secretariat, AG office, DDC offices, and courts, elders are “subjected to neglect rather than respect,” the statement said.
JKCSF Chairman Abdul Qayoom Wani described senior citizens as a “reservoir of wisdom, vision, and guidance for younger generations.” He said that while elders were historically revered in Kashmiri society, many today are abandoned in old-age homes and denied dignity in public life.
“It is regrettable that there was no meaningful mention from concerned stakeholders, even though all of us will have to sail in the same boat tomorrow,” Wani said.
He urged the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister to immediately implement the Senior Citizens Act 2017, ensure all legitimate facilities for elders, and introduce dedicated counters and support services for them in public institutions.
Wani also appealed to the youth and civil society to recognise their duties towards elders—respecting them, standing by them, and learning from their experiences. At the same time, he encouraged senior citizens themselves to play an active role in social reform, fighting drug abuse, curbing social evils, and promoting communal harmony.
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