Prioritizing Dignity: Sakeena Itoo Champions Senior Citizen Welfare and Enhanced Care Facilities in Jammu

JAMMU, JUNE 17 — Minister for Social Welfare, Education, Health, and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, emphasized that respecting senior citizens is a fundamental right rather than a favor, given their massive contributions to the development of Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking at a grand event at the JKTDC Banquet Hall at TRC Jammu organized to honor the elderly, Itoo joined top officials—including Director of Social Welfare Jammu, Ranjeet Singh, and representatives from the Advisory Board for Scheduled Castes and Poshan ICDS—to celebrate the invaluable role elders play in nurturing families and driving socio-economic growth. She underscored that ensuring the dignity, care, and well-being of the elderly within homes and communities remains a collective responsibility for both individuals and public institutions.

To turn this vision into actionable support, Itoo directed department officials to significantly upgrade local infrastructure, ordering the creation of a well-equipped library and dedicated recreational spaces at the Roop Nagar Day Care Centre to boost the mental, physical, and social well-being of its members. Recognizing the immense wisdom the elderly possess, she instructed the Social Welfare Department to maintain regular interactions with senior citizens, promptly address their grievances, and streamline facilitation measures across all public service delivery mechanisms. The event also featured expressions of gratitude from Day Care Centre President T.R. Sharma and Old Age Home President Dr. Dinesh Gupta, who thanked the minister and the department for their sustained support and briefed attendees on the current services being provided to improve the quality of life for Jammu’s elderly population.