Amar Singh Club, Srinagar, in collaboration with Moul Mouj Foundation recently conducted an important seminar on the theme “Beyond Awareness: Making Elder Abuse Prevention Work.” to discuss how the rights and well-being of our senior citizens or elders could be protected. Elder Abuse has become a crucial and wide spread issue not only in Jammu and Kashmir but globally and therefore, the UNO has also taken cognizance of it and recognized it as a profound public health and human rights issue and hence, observed 15th of June,World Elder Abuse Awareness Day2026 under the above theme. The World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2026 was marked by an event held at United Nations Headquarters in New York, alongside a major international meeting on the rights of persons with disabilities.
The Organizers of the Seminar at Amar Singh club aligned the event with the official 2026 United Nations Theme. At Amar Singh Club, the focus remained on elder abuse which generally goes under-recognized and under-reported. It can take many forms, including physical, psychological, and financial abuse, as well as neglect. It often occurs in situations where individuals lack visibility, support, or access to services. Addressing this issue requires more than raising awareness. It calls for stronger systems that can prevent abuse and respond effectively when it happens, while respecting the dignity, independence, and rights of older persons.
The Seminar at Amar Singh Club, was attended by a galaxy of medical doctors, Former officers of administration and police, academicians, educationists, media persons and senior citizens. Many speakers deliberated and spoke on the theme. Nasir Hamid Khan, Secretary, Amar Singh Club, welcomed the guests and introduced the theme of the seminar and conducted proceedings also. Dr Zubair Saleem, Geriatric Consultant and Chairman Moul Mouj Foundation, gave a presentation in detail about the elder abuse, their riddles, issues of health, psychological, emotional distraction and other issues pertaining to their ageing life. He related certain personal experiences with such elders who are in a suffering mode due to ageing. He suggested solid and fact-based measures which can make the life of elders or senior citizens comfortable. He also spoke how Moul Mouj Foundation Is tirelessly and devotedly providing medical service and mental therapy to the senior citizens.
A retired Kashmir University academic legend recently warned that a decline in moral values is driving a rise in elder abuse. Pointing to the historic European Renaissance—which revived truth, humanism, and wisdom, inspiring great minds like W.B. Yeats—the veteran academician called for a cultural rebirth closer to home. It is time for a collective shift in attitude: a revival of our age-old values to protect, respect, and cherish our elders. Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, (IAS Retrd), Chairman GCC, spoke on the occasion and focused how t elder abuse could be prevented and protected. He stressed on the implementation of “Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 in India” to establish legal obligations for children to provide maintenance and allow for abusive adults to be legally evicted from a parent’s home. This would mean the elders possess Legal Protections and Rights as per the Law. He also appealed the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to come out and envisage laws and maintain legal rights for elders so that the adults are prevented from abusing elders.
“Old age is an unavoidable stage of life that mirrors childhood; both are natural periods of dependence where children rely on parents, and later, parents rely on their children. Consequently, it is our duty to love, care for, and honor our elders.”
Kafayat Rizvi, former senior Officer and Chairman, Central Pensioners Association, spoke and related his discussion on the issue in terms of Holy Verses of Quran and teachings of Prophet SAW. He stressed that the elderabuse is fast emerging due to the lack of moral and religious education. He recalled the times of the past when elders were respected and loved and the adults would be submissive but the present situation is very petrifying which has made the old parents and elders to live in constant fear and shiver. He stressed that the educational system requires to steer out with reformations which would involve value-based education. Prof Yasmeen Ashia, Former Director Colleges of Higher Education, spoke and said the elders in the society experience traumas and ordeals physically, healthily, mentally, financially and emotionally. She said that the elder abuse symbolically reflects the downfall of moral values in our society. She stressed that systematic measures and networks are required to maintain the dignity and honour of elders.
Nasir Aslam Wani, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, delivered an emotional and though provoking speech at the conclusion of the Seminar, He reminded the audience about the past when, our society including elder and adults would honour, love, share joys of each other. It was a time when one would regard his parents and elders and care for their desires, wishes and needs. He said the parent is the sweetest and loving relation for a human being in the world. He said, “If you don’t treat your brother, sister, son, daughter and even wife well, they may behave in the same manner. But even though, you don’t treat and behave well with your parents, still they continue to love you and pray for your welfare.”
Chief Minister’s Advisor highlighted that not only elders need awareness, the young generation also needs to be made aware and inspired to respect and regard elders. They need to remember that today their parents are old and suffering, tomorrow, the same would be repeated with them. He advised the organizers that younger generation should have been invited to the seminar, otherwise, it ironically, gets limited to ourselves (elders) only. He stressed that the society particularly younger generation needs to change its attitude towards the elders. He said he would take up the issue of elder abuse with the social welfare Department and request them to formulate policies for the safeguard of the ageing elders. Old age is an important stage of life that a man cannot deny. Childhood and old age are natural reliant conditions of life where children depend on parents and vice-versa. We need to love, care and honour our elders. At the end of the Seminar, a Booklet, titled “Impact Report” prepared by Moul Mouj Foundation was released by the Chief Guest and other distinguished Guests.
(The author is a veteran academician. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
