ONE DAY STATE LEVEL WORKSHOP ON ELDERLY WOMEN’s LIVELIHOOD APPROACH INCOME GENERATION PRESENT

SCENARIO IN MANIPUR Proceedings of the one Day State Level Workshop on “ Elderly Women’s

Livelihood Approach Income Generation Present Scenario In Manipur”, on 14th May, 2012, at Court Hall, New Administrative Block, Manipur University, Canchipur, Imphal. Sponsored by Department of Social Welfare Govt. of Manipur, Jointly Organized by Manipur University Working Women Association and Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India Manipur Chapter, Imphal

The Inaugural function of the one Day State Level Workshop On “ Elderly

Women’s Livelihood Approach Income Generation Present Scenario In Manipur” was held at Court Hall, New Administrative Block, ManipurUniversity, with Prof.H,N.K. Sharma, Vice- Chancellor, Manipur University, as Chief Guest and Prof. Ksh Bimola Devi, Former, Dean School of Social Sciences, Manipur University, as President, Smt. R.K. Nayansana Devi, Chairperson, Manipur State Social Welfare Board, Govt. of Manipur

and Shri Thingnam Joychandra Singh, Women Development Officer, Department of Social Welfare, Govt. of Manipur were the Guests of Honour respectively.

The function was started with Welcome Address and Key Note Address given by Prof. P. Madhubala Devi, President , Manipur University Working Women Association. In her key note address she has highlighted the problem

faced by the elderly women such as gender base discrimination often stemming from the deep rooted cultural and social bias, compounded by other forms of discrimination base on class ,caste, disability, illiteracy unemployment and marital status, She also focused on the patriarchal hierarchy dining property rights to the elderly Women. Elderly women when compared with elder men don’t have time for leisure or recreational activities, Suffering from chronic illness and disabilities in later life than men. Women suffer greater non-communicable diseases and experience lower social and mental health status especially if they are single and or widowed.

This was followed by the speeches delivered by the guests of Honour Smt. R.K. Nayansana Devi said that, God is Invisible; Mothers are physicians appointed by God. God Could Not be Everywhere! So, He invented Mothers: to care ; Protect you. When your Mother requires care from her family is she getting it ,You Ignored or taken lightly ‘your mother’s problems. and Shri Thingnam Joychandra Singh in her speech the importance of elderly women in society in Manipur were Highlighted and the nature of their livelihood and income generation approach were focused, and emphasized as an important area of study.

Prof.H.N.K. Sharma, V.C. of M.U., Who was the chief Guest of the function, stressed the importance of women in society and the need of their empowerment for the development of the society as a whole. He also appreciated

the one Day State Level Workshop on Elderly Women organized by Manipur University Working Women Association and Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India , Manipur Chapter. He could like to encourage such Workshop on Women Particularly Elderly Women. Prof. Ksh. Bimola Devi in her presidential speech has pointed out the importance of the study elderly women in the present day society. The need for care and attention to given to the elderly women by the members of the family is called for. The vote of thanks of the Inaugural Function was given by Shri. H. Sanamatum Singh, Editor & General Secretary, Alzheimer’s & Related Disorders Society of India, Manipur Chapter, Imphal.

The First technical session of the workshop was started 1.00 pm with Prof. Madhuri on the Chair. Prof. Bimola has Delivered Lectures as resource person on the topic , Elderly Women: Issues and Challenges” She elaborated highlighted why elderly women has become an issue to be studied and discussed in the 21st century.

. She also presented the Challenges faced by the elderly women both in the family as well as in the society. She had emphasized on the need to frame a policy on the elderly women by Government.

Dr. Robita Sorokhaibam, Second resource person on the session had discussed the prospect on income generation for the aged women

with her lecture on the topic” Aged Women: An approach to income Generation”. The real situation of the person is to be critically examine. Accordingly the nature of the income generation is to be identified in two approaches , Traditional approach(Agriculture, Agarbati making, Horticulture etc) and Non-Traditional Approach( Credit an saving groups, job creation scheme, family business etc). She Concluded her topic with a moral that we should love and respect elderly women.

The 2nd technical session was chaired by prof. Ksh Bimola . The first recourse person was Dr. L. Kunjashwori Devi, delivering lectures on problem and prospect of elderly women. She had Pointed out the Problem faced by the elderly women suffering from dementia. The lack of care and attention of the elderly women have created more problems for these elderly women

. She mainly focussed on the need of giving health care services by the members of the family to the elderly women suffering from dementia.

Dr. Ksh. Somendro of Director, Institute of Co-operative Management, Lmphel, emphasized in the growth of SHG’s among women to generate their own income in Manipur. He had also cited many cases on the successful working

of SHG’s that directly helps in the empowerment of women as well as in earning livelihood and additional income for the elderly women. The two session had very interesting interaction among the participants and the resource persons.

The panel discussion of the workshop was held at 4.00 p.m. with the chairperson of both the sessions and four resource persons on the basis of the lectures delivered by the resource persons and the interactions the members minutely discussed about the recommendations. After through discussions, the following recommendation were made: 1. It is necessary to find out the percentage of elderly women in the Manipur

both Valleys and hills according to the 2011 census. 2. The Percentage of unmarried elderly women and disabled elderly women’s

is to be classified clearly on the basis of 2011 census, 3. The Old- age pension given to the elderly women is to be raised at least

above Rs.1000/- per month.

5. Old-age home for the elderly women is to be provided by the

Government and separate homes for physically challenges, and mentally retarded, Alzheimer’s and Dementia, elderly women.

6. Medical and health care services are to be provided periodically.

7. Media persons should be made aware of an educated on the issue

and challenges faced by the elderly women in the family and society.

8. The Government should provide recreation centres for the elderly

women including religious norms and practices to be observed by the elderly women belonging to different religion.

9. Incentives are to be given for the formation of SHG’s of elderly

women by the concerned departments of the Manipur of and the Central Govt. and other funding agencies.

sd/- sd/-

Prof. P. Madhubala Devi H. Sanamatum Singh President General Secretary Manipur University Working Alzheimer’s and Related Women Association, Canchipur Related Disorders Society

, Imphal -795001 of India Manipur Chapter Assembly Road Imphal-795001

Copy to: 1. The Hon’ble Prime Minister, Govt. of India. 2. The Hon’ble Speaker, Lok Sabha, Govt. of India. 3. The Hon’ble Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Govt. of India. 4. Hon’ble Chairperson, United Progressive

Alliance new Delhi

5. Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Social Justice

and Empowerment Govt. of India. 6. The Hon’ble Minister , Ministry of Women

And Child Development Govt. of India. 7. The Hon ’ble Minister Ministryof Development

for North East Region Govt.of India. 8. The Chairperson, National Commission for

Women, New Delhi. 9. The Chairperson, Central Social Welfare Board,

New Delhi. 10. To His Excellency The Governor, Govt. of

Manipur 11. Hon’ble Chief Minister, Govt. of Manipur. 12 . Hon’ble Minister, Social welfare Govt.

Manipur 13. Hon’ble Minister, Rural Development and

Panchayati Raj Govt. Of Manipur 14. Deputy Commissioner, Govt. Of Manipur,

Whole Nine District in Manipur sd/- sd/-

Prof. P. Madhubala Devi H. Sanamatum Singh President General Secretary Manipur University Working Alzheimer ‘sand Related Women Association,Canchipur, Disorders Society of India

Imphal -795001 Manipur Chapter Assembly Road Imphal-795001