Integrating elders could make them an electoral force to reckon with, says former judge

Integrating elders in country could make them voters, can appeal to PM to not ignore them, Theranirajan inaugurated HelpAge India event, assistive devices distributed, Lok Adalat judge T.N. Vallinayagam lauds HelpAge India for enabling elderly to live with dignity on International Day of Older Persons.

If all elders could be integrated in the country and made voters, then the government cannot neglect them, said Lok Adalat judge T.N. Vallinayagam.

The former Madras High Court judge was speaking at the valedictory of HelpAge India’s International Day of Older Persons here on Sunday after the crowning of Grandpa King and Grannie Queen 2023.

Mr. Vallinayagam said October 1 marked actor ‘Sivaji’ Ganesan’s birth anniversary and recalled a song from one of his films Engalukkum kaalam varum kaalam vandhaal vazhvu varum to laud HelpAge India for enabling the elderly to live with dignity. 

Youth who respect the elders and take their blessings will flourish, he said. “If we can collect the particulars of the number of elders in each town and get them enrolled as voters, then we can appeal to the Prime Minister to not neglect us. We have the experience that we can give back to the people of the country,” he said.

E. Theranirajan, Dean, Madras Medical College, inaugurated the event that included several programmes for the elders. Thatikonda Vatsala Ramachandra Foundation distributed assistive devices.

V. Shankar, trustee and executive director of Sankara Eye Hospital, Pammal; N. Vijayalakshmi, principal of Bhaktavatsalam Vidyashram; and V. Bajendrababu, district governor of Lions International, participated.