IIntroduction International Day for Elderly is celebrated every year on 1st October. This day is observed to focus on the importance of senior citizens who sometimes are neglected in our society. This day emphasizes on our responsibilities towards our elders in order to make their lives happier. The International Day for Elderly is an opportunity to focus on the important contributions that older people make to society and raise awareness of the issues and challenges of ageing in today’s world. Statistics in India According to Population Census, in India, 2011 there are nearly 104 million elderly persons (aged 60 years or above) including 53 million females and 51 million males. Both the share and size of elderly population is increasing over time. From 5.6% in 1961 the proportion has increased to 8.6% in 2011. For males it was marginally lower at 8.2%, while for females it was 9.0%. As regards rural and urban areas, 71% of elderly population reside in rural areas while 29 % are in urban areas. Background Following a United Nations resolution in December of 1990, the world has been pausing to recognize and celebrate the importance of seniors every October 1st since the first International Day of Older Persons in 1991. There are a wide variety of activities planned around the world including lunches, entertainment, information sessions, parties and intergenerational activities with local youth among others. Theme- 2017 The theme of the 2017 International Day of Older Persons is “Stepping into the Future: Tapping the Talents, Contributions and Participation of Older Persons in Society”. Objectives The objectives of the International day of elderly 2017 are to:
Enable conditions/ measures that influence the readiness of older persons to participate including securing healthcare, regular income, legal protection and access to financial services.
Create pathways/ means to facilitate contributions and participation in old age, including technology, education and lifelong learning, access to information, as well as overcoming barriers that exclude or discriminate against older persons.
