National conference at USTM focuses on elderly rights and welfare

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 10, 2025

Meghalaya State Women’s Commission chairperson Iamonlang M. Syiem emphasized the urgent need to safeguard elderly rights, calling for collective action to ensure their dignity and well-being.

She was speaking at the inauguration of a two-day national conference, “Elderly Life Matters: A Human Rights Perspective,” organized by the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), New Delhi.

The conference, hosted by USTM’s Department of Social Work, commenced on Monday and was attended by eminent scholars, policymakers, and representatives from various organizations. Felicita L. Majaw, a former member of the Meghalaya State Women’s Commission, was also present at the event.

In his welcome address, USTM Vice-Chancellor Prof. G.D. Sharma underscored the challenges faced by senior citizens and stressed the need for stronger policies to uphold their rights and enhance their quality of life.

A key highlight of the conference is a series of plenary sessions where experts will deliberate on critical issues such as elderly abuse and neglect, legal safeguards, healthcare, and the role of families and communities in elder welfare. The discussions aim to generate actionable policy recommendations for improving the lives of senior citizens in India.

The event was graced by distinguished guests, including Himanshu Rath, founder and chairman of Agewell Foundation, India, who attended as the guest of honor. Also present was Prof. Abdulrahim Vijapur, former chairman of the Department of Political Science at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), along with Dr. Amit Choudhury, Dean of the School of Technology & Management, USTM, who addressed the inaugural session.

The conference focuses on six key themes – Human Rights and the Elderly: Global perspectives on elderly rights, strategies for Addressing Abuse and Neglect: Ensuring safety and security for older adults, policies for Protecting Elder Rights: Legal safeguards for senior citizens in India, health and Well-being through Best Practices: Holistic healthcare approaches, role of Families & Communities in Elderly Welfare: Collaborative approaches to elder care and identifying Different Needs and Rights of Older Adults: Voices of elders and youth for a better future.

Serving as a vital platform for dialogue, advocacy, and policy development, the conference aims to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for the elderly in society.