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Eight per cent of population consists of elders, says expert

Staff Reporter

Persons in government service have plenty of opportunities to serve the people Besides eternal values of truth, beauty and goodness, the youth should be sensitised to freedom, equality, justice, secularism and universal brotherhood

CHENNAI: : Globally, we are slowly edging towards an ageing society and in India, eight per cent of the population consists of senior citizens, K. Aludiapillai, former secretary to the State Government, said on Sunday.

He was delivering the Mary Clubwala Jadhav Tenth Memorial Endowment Lecture at the Madras School of Social Work.

"With the gradual increase in longevity, the percentage of elders in society is increasing, and these experienced persons who have seen the joys and sorrows of life are opting for some kind of service which will not only enable them to spend their post-retirement life usefully, but also meaningfully," he said.

Persons in government service have plenty of opportunities to serve the people directly and indirectly, as the nature of their work leads to activities that have a bearing on the welfare of society.

Over the years, functionaries outside the Government, including private firms, corporate organisations and individuals, have realised that all of them owe an obligation to society and should undertake some activity relevant to the area they operate in.

Eternal values

He said besides the eternal values such as truth, beauty and goodness, the youth should be sensitised to freedom, equality, justice, secularism and universal brotherhood.

P.C. Mathew, president, Society for Social Education and Research, referring to the social contract theory of balancing benefits and obligations, said the oppressed did not subscribe to the theory of giving back to society.

C.D. Jose, secretary of the Society, highlighted the qualities of foresight, vision and determination of Mary Clubwala Jadhav.

Fatima Vasanth, Principal, Madras School of Social Work, spoke.

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