Bhubaneswar: December 19: ‘Senior citizens are like the trees of wisdom in our society. Their wisdom does not come from any book. It comes from their deep understanding of life. No society can grow or move forward by ignoring its senior citizens. They are the source of immense knowledge and experience that can guide the younger generation to handle the situations better. We must appreciate their wisdom and value their contribution to society’, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday. He was attending the Foundation Day celebration of the Federation of Senior Citizens Association here.
Speaking further on the occasion, Naveen Patnaik said that, Government has always been sensitive to the needs of Senior Citizens of the State. Also, he informed that, Government is providing monthly pension to more than 27 lakh Senior Citizens under different schemes.
Odisha CM said, ‘In 2016, the State Government has put in place ‘Odisha Senior Citizen Policy’. The Policy envisages a number of welfare provisions for the Senior Citizens. We are also setting up 200 bedded Old Age Homes in all districts in a phased manner. We are setting up Geriatric Care Wards and Counselling Centres at all district level Hospitals’.
Speaking on the security of the Senior Citizens, Chief Minister said, ‘Giving utmost priority to the security of senior citizens, we have opened Senior Citizen Security Cells in all Police Stations.’
CM further added, ‘Apart from socio-economic and healthcare needs, senior citizens do also have religious needs. Keeping this in mind, Odisha Government has been running Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana since 2016. Thousands of senior citizens have availed the facility under this popular scheme to visit several religious places across the country’.
