‘Government not giving due importance to the needs of senior citizens’

From a Correspondent

Dibrugarh, Feb 13: On the occasion of the 7th biennial general convention of Assam Senior Citizens Sanmilan, a book titled Axomor Lok Sanskriti was formally released by noted litterateur and former president of Axam Xahitya Xabha, Dr gen Saikia, in a general meeting held on Sunday.

Addressing the meeting, Dr gen Saikia termed the economic system as the chief reason behind the difficulties faced by the senior citizens. Besides, Dr. Saikia also urged upon the senior citizens to make good use of their free time.

Later, an open meeting, presided over by the former Academic Registrar of Dibrugarh University and Registrar of Tezpur Central University and jourlist, Dr Manoranjan Sarma, was iugurated by the Principal of Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH), Dr. Ratan Kotoky.

Stating the objectives of the convention, chief secretary Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said that the government had not been giving due importance to the needs of senior citizens and that this matter was not brought for discussion in this year’s annual budget. Mahanta regretted that for the last two months approval was not granted to meet State Education Minister Dr. Himata Biswa Sarma even for a brief 10-minute period.

A souvenir published by the reception committee of the Sanmilan was released by local MLA Prashanta Phukan, who in his speech guaranteed to bring up the problems of the senior citizens before the government in the ongoing budget session. The same was assured by Lahowal MLA Ritupar Boruah, to bring to the government’s notice the unsolved tribulations of senior citizens.

Speaking on the occasion, former Director of Education Rudeswar Sonowal also talked about the problems of senior citizens.

In the delegate meeting, Dr. Manoranjan Sarmah as president , Mohan Burhagohain as executive president,  Dr. Shristidhar Dutta,  Dimbeswar Das, I rzary, Dimchand Bordoloi  as vice-presidents; Prafulla Kumar Mahanta as chief secretary ; Baneswar Khaund as assistant secretary ; Monikanta Chetia as organizing secretary;  Dilip Buragohain as education secretary  and  Uttam Boruah as publicity secretary were elected as the officials of the executive committee for the  forthcoming working session.

During the meeting, apart from adopting three individual resolutions, two important declarations were adopted against the decision of the Central Government to settle Hindu Bangladeshis in Assam, including the border issue.