Press Release
Press Release from Women, Child, Senior Citizens and Divyangjan Welfare Department
Information & Public Relations Department
Report on Awareness Generation Program for the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 and Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana
Gangtok, August 19:
The Women, Child, Senior Citizens and Divyangjan Welfare Department, Gangtok District, organized an Awareness Generation Program on the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 and the rules related to the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) at the Schedule Caste Bhawan, Gangtok on August 18.
The primary objective of the program was to impart awareness and knowledge related to:
1 ) The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 and its provisions.
2 ) Rules and welfare measures under the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), a comprehensive scheme dedicated to the well-being of senior citizens.
The programme was graced by eminent speakers and distinguished guests, including:
1) Ms. Shreya Sharma, Ld. Advocate – Guest Speake
2) Mr. Monnie Ram Rai, Member, Sikkim Senior Citizen Foundation (Retd. SFS) – Guest Speaker
3) Dr. Ruth, Medical Superintendent, STNM Hospital
4) Ms. Bandana Rai, Additional Secretary, Women, Child, Senior Citizen & Divyangjan Welfare Department
5) Ms. Manisha Century, Joint Secretary, Women, Child, Senior Citizen & Divyangjan Welfare Department
6) Mr. Abhijeet R. Patil, SDM Headquarters
7) Mr. Mahendra Chettri, SDM Gangtok
8) Mr. Roshan Subba, SDM Ragdung
9) Ward Panchayats under Gangtok District, GMC Councillors, Panchayat Presidents
10) School Students
11) Social Welfare Inspectors and members of the HUB Empowerment of Women Team, Gangtok District
The programme was led by Ms. Manikala Gurung, Social Welfare Officer (SWO), Gangtok District, along with her team of Social Welfare Inspectors. She inaugurated the event with a warm welcome address to all participants and dignitaries.
Following this, Mrs. Manisha Century, Joint Secretary, highlighted the rules related to the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), explaining how the scheme provides senior citizens with shelter, medical support, assistive devices, and opportunities for active ageing.
Ms. Shreya Sharma, Ld. Advocate, elaborated on the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, which is a central law enacted to safeguard the welfare of elderly persons, covering maintenance, care, protection of life and property, and provision for old-age homes.
Mr. Monnie Ram Rai, Member of the Sikkim Senior Citizen Foundation, spoke about the Sikkim Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Rules, 2014. He also discussed how the AVYAY scheme extends grants to NGOs and local bodies to run old-age homes, care institutions, and support programmes offering shelter, healthcare, food, and social engagement for indigent seniors across Sikkim. He emphasized that with its extensive outreach and funding, AVYAY strives to make ageing dignified and inclusive.
The programme also included an open discussion, where several senior citizens raised questions related to senior citizen pensions and other welfare entitlements. These queries were addressed and clarified by Ms. Manikala Gurung, SWO, providing valuable guidance to the participants.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Ms. Jyotshna Khatiwara, Assistant Director (Nutrition), who expressed gratitude to the guest speakers, dignitaries, participants, and the organizing team for making the awareness session meaningful and impactful.
Gangtok, August 19:
The Women, Child, Senior Citizens and Divyangjan Welfare Department, Gangtok District, organized an Awareness Generation Program on the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 and the rules related to the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) at the Schedule Caste Bhawan, Gangtok on August 18.
The primary objective of the program was to impart awareness and knowledge related to:
1 ) The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 and its provisions.
2 ) Rules and welfare measures under the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), a comprehensive scheme dedicated to the well-being of senior citizens.
The programme was graced by eminent speakers and distinguished guests, including:
1) Ms. Shreya Sharma, Ld. Advocate – Guest Speake
2) Mr. Monnie Ram Rai, Member, Sikkim Senior Citizen Foundation (Retd. SFS) – Guest Speaker
3) Dr. Ruth, Medical Superintendent, STNM Hospital
4) Ms. Bandana Rai, Additional Secretary, Women, Child, Senior Citizen & Divyangjan Welfare Department
5) Ms. Manisha Century, Joint Secretary, Women, Child, Senior Citizen & Divyangjan Welfare Department
6) Mr. Abhijeet R. Patil, SDM Headquarters
7) Mr. Mahendra Chettri, SDM Gangtok
8) Mr. Roshan Subba, SDM Ragdung
9) Ward Panchayats under Gangtok District, GMC Councillors, Panchayat Presidents
10) School Students
11) Social Welfare Inspectors and members of the HUB Empowerment of Women Team, Gangtok District
The programme was led by Ms. Manikala Gurung, Social Welfare Officer (SWO), Gangtok District, along with her team of Social Welfare Inspectors. She inaugurated the event with a warm welcome address to all participants and dignitaries.
Following this, Mrs. Manisha Century, Joint Secretary, highlighted the rules related to the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), explaining how the scheme provides senior citizens with shelter, medical support, assistive devices, and opportunities for active ageing.
Ms. Shreya Sharma, Ld. Advocate, elaborated on the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, which is a central law enacted to safeguard the welfare of elderly persons, covering maintenance, care, protection of life and property, and provision for old-age homes.
Mr. Monnie Ram Rai, Member of the Sikkim Senior Citizen Foundation, spoke about the Sikkim Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Rules, 2014. He also discussed how the AVYAY scheme extends grants to NGOs and local bodies to run old-age homes, care institutions, and support programmes offering shelter, healthcare, food, and social engagement for indigent seniors across Sikkim. He emphasized that with its extensive outreach and funding, AVYAY strives to make ageing dignified and inclusive.
The programme also included an open discussion, where several senior citizens raised questions related to senior citizen pensions and other welfare entitlements. These queries were addressed and clarified by Ms. Manikala Gurung, SWO, providing valuable guidance to the participants.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Ms. Jyotshna Khatiwara, Assistant Director (Nutrition), who expressed gratitude to the guest speakers, dignitaries, participants, and the organizing team for making the awareness session meaningful and impactful.