Kisthwar, June 18: To mark observance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Kishtwar, under the guidance of its Chairman (Principal District and Sessions Judge) Sudhir Kumar Khajuria, Wednesday organised an awareness programme for senior citizens here.
The programme was inaugurated by Slahuddin Ahmed, Sub-Judge and Secretary DLSA in presence of Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel (LADC) Naveed Khurshid, Kishtwar. They were also the key resource persons for the event. In his address, Slahuddin Ahmed emphasised the global significance of observing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. He noted that the day serves as a vital platform for fostering awareness and understanding the various forms of abuse and neglect faced by the elderly, influenced by socio-cultural, economic and demographic factors.
He also provided an informative overview of legal provisions and welfare schemes in place for the protection and dignity of senior citizens. Naveed Khurshid delved into the various forms of elder abuse, including neglect, physical and verbal mistreatment, emotional humiliation, financial exploitation, abandonment and isolation. He highlighted that under the Legal Services Authorities Act, senior citizens are entitled to free legal aid and legal representation, reinforcing the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring justice and dignity for the elderly. The event witnessed the participation of several prominent senior citizens from the district, including Roshal Lal Parihar, J&K President of the Senior Citizens Council, Kishtwar, Capt. (Retd.) Roshan Lal, Dev Dutt Sharma, Nazir Ahmed Sheikh, Farooq Ahmed Razvi among others.
