April 07, 2002

‘10’

    The Social Justice & Empowerment Minister, Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya left New Delhi for the Spanish Capital Madrid this morning to attend the Second World Assembly on Ageing. Dr. Jatiya heads to the World Assembly a seven-member delegation comprising of senior officials including Social Justice & Empowerment Secretary Shri C. Gopal Reddy and representatives of Non-governmental Organisations connected with the Welfare activities for the aged.

    The four-day long World Assembly will revise the International Plan of Action on Ageing which was evolved twenty two years ago at the first World Assembly on Ageing in Vienna. The Madrid Assembly assumes importance in view of the globalization which is causing a silent and invisible transformation in social structures. Fragmentation of the traditional family structure has eroded the support base to the elderly people whose population is continuously increasing due to better health care. It is expected that the Madrid Assembly will tackle some of the key issues due to changing social structures.

    Dr. Jatiya will apprise the comity of nations at the World Assembly about Government of India’s commitment to the empowerment of older persons and the measures being taken in the country to promote their welfare.