HT Correspondent
TEZPUR, Oct 1: Sonitpur district administration observed the International Day of Older Persons on Saturday. The enthusiasm of the elderly people during the occasion, the sincere exchanges and heartwarming stories touched everyone present in the programme.
Around 60 elderly persons above 70 years of age were present in the programme where the district administration felicitated three elderly voters, namely Haren Bordoloi (101 years), Abbas Ali (102 years) and Kalicharan Ruhi Das (101 years) for actively taking part in the voting process every year and for being an inspiration to the youth of the nation. As per instructions received from the Election Commission of India, all such elderly voters above 100 years of age across the district were felicitated by the respective circle officers as part of the programme.
Called ‘Moromere xojua eta din’, the day was observed by Sonitpur district administration in association with Election Office, Tezpur, and Social Welfare and Panchayat and Rural Development departments in a solemn function held at Circuit House, Tezpur.
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The programme was formally inaugurated by deputy commissioner Deba Kumar Mishra who spoke on the importance of the day and the theme for this year’s International Day of Older Persons – ‘Resilience of Older Persons in a Changing World’.
Renowned actor, Dr Jahanara Begum who was present as special guest also spoke on the need to look after one’s health in old age in the programme which was conducted by Dharmendra Nath.
Aklima Begum of Besseria Old Age Home also spoke on the occasion and narrated stories of the harrowing plight of several elderly persons present during the programme.
As part of the brief cultural programme organised on the occasion, Bagurumba – traditional Bodo dance was performed by Kabita Swargiary and team while a member of a Self Help Group sang a song. The elderly persons enthusiastically took part in the Bihu dance performed on the occasion by Rupamani Das and team, with several coming forward to sing Bihu naams and also dance along with the Bihu troupe.
Along with DC Deba Kumar Mishra, chairperson, Sonitpur Zilla Parishad, Dolly Surin, CEO, ZP, Karabi Saikia, ADCs Romy Baruah, Dyotiva Bora, Raj Boruah, i/c DSWO Kabita Phangcho, election officer Eva Das, and officials and staff of district administration were present in the programme.
