The Department of Social Work at the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) today inaugurated a two-day national conference on ‘Elderly Life Matters: A Human Rights Perspective’.
Sponsored by the National Human Rights Commission in New Delhi, the conference aims to address critical issues affecting the elderly from a human rights perspective.
Iamonlang M Syiem, Chairperson of the Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW), served as the chief guest at the event, accompanied by Felicita L Majaw, a former member of the MSCW.
In his welcome address, Prof GD Sharma, Vice-Chancellor of USTM, emphasised the urgent need to focus on the challenges faced by senior citizens and the importance of formulating policies to ensure their dignity and well-being.
The event was further enhanced by the presence of Himanshu Rath, founder and chairman of Agewell Foundation, who attended as the guest of honour, alongside Prof Abdulrahim Vijapur, former Chairman of the Department of Political Science at Aligarh Muslim University.
In her keynote address, Syiem highlighted the pressing issues regarding elderly rights and underscored the significance of collective efforts in safeguarding their welfare. The conference includes a series of plenary sessions where distinguished academics, policymakers and representatives from NGOs will discuss key themes related to elderly rights and welfare. The goal of these discussions is to generate actionable policy recommendations aimed at enhancing the quality of life for senior citizens in India.
