More health infrastructure needed for older people: President

NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee today said there is need to create additional health infrastructure for older people as the society is undergoing social change and will have effects of nuclear family concept.

Speaking on the occasion of Older Persons Day, Mukherjee said the society is always indebted to their senior citizens and by serving them "we pay back our debts."

Talking about the significance of elders or old people in context of Indian society, the President said "we regarded our older people, our elders especially teachers and parents as equivalent to god which is being and should be carry forward by young generation also".

Emphasising that all the arms of the society need to channelise their efforts in taking care of old people, he said, "the responsibility of taking care of senior citizens can not be discharged by the state machinery alone."

The society is undergoing social change -- concept of nuclear family and modern life style will have their effects also. So there is need to create additional health infrastructure, skilled manpower especially to help and take care of senior citizens, Mukherjee said.

The number of old people are also rising, at present there are more than 10.5 crore people in the country who are above 60 years, the number will go up to 17 crore in next 10 years, he said, adding that therefore there is need to create additional infrastructure.