NHRC urges govt to prioritise senior citizens' issues

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 27: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the government to be sensitive to the rights of senior citizens and to effectively implement the provisions of the constitution, relevant acts, policies, and regulations.

Issuing a press statement on Friday on the occasion of the 5th National Senior Citizens Day, the Commission urged that issues concerning senior citizens be prioritised in policies, plans, programmes, and budgets, and emphasised the need for the transfer of skills and experiences between generations.

NHRC spokesperson Dr. Tikaram Pokharel stated, "The Commission directs all three levels of government to emphasise respect for senior citizens. The Commission also requests family members and civil society to fulfill their responsibilities in ensuring and respecting the rights of senior citizens.”

Pokharel said that monitoring has found that senior citizens are deprived of facilities provided by the state, including priority access to health and transportation services, and that such services are often not accessible to them.

According to the Commission, monitoring has also revealed that many senior citizens feel lonely due to family disintegration, neglect and abandonment by family members, including those living in old-age homes. As a result, they are deprived of their rights because of a lack of respect, care, and affection.

Currently, the number of senior citizens in Nepal stands at 2,977,318. According to the National Census 2021, the growth rate of the senior citizen population is 3.5 per cent.

The overall population growth rate recorded in the 2021 Census was 0.92 per cent, indicating that the growth rate of senior citizens is significantly higher than that of the general population.

The number of senior citizens is expected to increase further due to rising life expectancy, declining mortality rates, and improved health awareness.

The Commission emphasised that the governments at all three levels need to take concrete steps to benefit society and the nation by transferring the knowledge, skills, experiences, and abilities of senior citizens considered a valuable social capital to the younger generation.

The 5th National Senior Citizens Day was observed across Nepal on Friday with the slogan “Our Common Campaign: Respect for Senior Citizens.” The day has been celebrated in Nepal since 2021 with the objective of ensuring dignity and rights for senior citizens.