Ministry of Social Welfare and Women and Child Affairs Advisor Sharmin S Murshid said that in order to build a welfare state, the past experience of the elderly, the light of knowledge and the reality of life require the combined efforts of the young and the creativity of the young.
She said, we will understand the problems of the elderly in our homes, families or society, try to solve them, and extend a hand of hope by standing by them. Because these two generations, the young and the elderly, are not separate; rather, they are one life, with two chapters. Referring to the young of today as the elderly of tomorrow, she said, the future welfare state will be built through the experience and joint efforts of the young and the elderly.
He said this while speaking as the chief guest at a day-long event organized by the Young-Old Intergenerational Self-reliance Club at the Khilgaon Pallima Sangsad Conference Hall in Dhaka today.
Eminent educationist and economist Professor Anu Muhammad, Director General of the Department of Social Services Md. Saidur Rahman Khan, Additional Director MM Mahmudullah, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Senior Citizen Forum Saiduzzaman Chapal, among the elders Fazlul Kabir and among the prophets Advocate Nilanjana Rifat Suravi, Choya, and Anika Anjum spoke as special guests. The welcome speech was delivered by the main entrepreneur and convener of the Young-Old Intergenerational Self-reliance Club Md. Hafizur Rahman Moyna.
The advisor said that the work of the Ministry of Social Welfare is sensitive and the scope of work is vast. He said, the responsibility of this ministry is to provide service to the marginalized people of this country.
The advisor said, after taking charge of this ministry, I have made structural changes to restore good governance and tried to make it successful through my own participation.
He said, everyone knows that I have increased the old age allowance to 61 lakhs, the widow's allowance to 35 lakhs and the amount of all allowances has been increased. In addition, initiatives have been taken to create 600 more clubs for the elderly with foreign funding, in addition to 400 clubs.
So that the elderly can talk to each other and have tea to get rid of the monotony of life. He said, if you can organize a meeting of the young and the elderly every month in these areas, then these 1000 children can come into contact with each other for creativity and counseling work.
He mentioned that the old places of grandfathers and grandmothers should not be thrown away and said, the life of grandfathers and grandmothers becomes joyful because the child is with them. He said, the overall activities of the Ministry of Social Welfare are being carried out to ensure social security, including daycare centers for children, medical services in hospitals, and above all, social security.
The advisor also said, this ministry does not work on bridges, it does not work on construction, it works on how to improve the condition of the poor. For this reason, the work of this ministry is very sensitive and huge. There is a huge power inherent in this ministry to work for the people. Which I have understood after coming to this ministry.
The advisor said, if we can truly make a welfare state in the future, then the people of this country will be very happy if we can strengthen the areas of work of the Ministry of Social Welfare, he mentioned.
He told the elders, you should sit with the youth, discuss how to take the country forward towards further development and build a beautiful Bangladesh.
