Himachal: Seminar highlights need to respect elders

Himachal Pradesh: Professor Sat Prakash Bansal, Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh, said that families and society must listen carefully to the elderly, whose emotional needs increase with age. He was speaking at the inaugural session of the national symposium, “Caring for the Elderly in the 21st Century: Current Challenges, Innovations, and Best Practices,” organized by the university’s departments of Social Work and Economics.
Professor Bansal emphasized that listening to the elderly not only honors their experiences but can also guide effective policymaking. He said, “Documenting their voices will help formulate more practical and inclusive policies.” He credited his mother, Parmeshwari Devi (92), for her constant guidance, highlighting the emotional role of elders in families.
The symposium also featured remarks from Registrar Professor Narendra Kumar Sankhyan, who urged young people to respect old age, and guest speaker Onkar Singh Pathania, who praised the educational progress in Himachal. Books like “Artificial Intelligence and Social Transformation” and “Time is Short” were released during the event.