The Senior Citizens Home located at Etsutchukha Colony in Wokha which was inaugurated on May 2. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Wokha | May 2
The Senior Citizens Home, located at Etsutchukha Colony near the Futsal ground in Wokha, Nagaland, was inaugurated virtually by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu in the presence of Dr Virendra Kumar, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The event held on May 2, was part of a nationwide launch, also saw similar inaugurations in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
The President inaugurated the Senior Citizen Welfare Portal, an online platform aimed at providing easy access to welfare programs and support systems for senior citizens. This digital initiative is expected to bridge the gap between senior citizens and the available government schemes, ensuring a more inclusive and efficient system for their well-being.
She also virtually inaugurated five Old Age Homes across various states, including the new facility in Wokha.
During the event, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Brahma Kumaris. The MoU is aimed at enhancing the quality of life for senior citizens through various programs focused on moral support, social engagement and overall empowerment of the elderly.
As part of the Rashtriya Vayoshir Yojana, President Murmu also distributed Assisted Living Devices to senior citizens. These devices are designed to aid mobility and assist elderly individuals in their daily activities, significantly improving their quality of life.
The event featured a pledge administered to the audience, followed by a speech by Dr Virendra Kumar. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to providing comprehensive support to senior citizens through various welfare schemes and programs, aimed at fostering inclusive development and improving the standard of living for the elderly.
Following the programme, C James Ezung, District Welfare Officer of Wokha, addressed the media. He expressed the district's enthusiasm in hosting the newly inaugurated Old Age Home, which he described as a long-awaited and much-needed facility for the senior citizens of Wokha.
“This facility will address the welfare concerns of senior citizens in our district. We urge those who need these services to come forward and avail of the benefits provided under this scheme,” he said.
Ezung also emphasised that the initiative was part of the broader scheme being implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and overseen by the Department of Social Welfare, Government of Nagaland.
He mentioned that advertisements will soon be placed in newspapers and a dedicated helpline will be set up for seniors who wish to register for the facility.
Senior citizens who wish to avail of the services at the Wokha Senior Citizens Home were encouraged to register either by contacting the Department of Social Welfare at the District Welfare Office in Wokha or by directly reaching out to the NGO managing the facility at Etsutchukha Colony. A dedicated helpline and registration process will also be made available for further convenience.
