District-Level Senior Citizens’ Day 2025 Celebrated in Baripada .

District-Level Senior Citizens’ Day 2025 Celebrated in Baripada .

The District Administration and the Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Mayurbhanj, jointly celebrated District-Level Senior Citizens’ Day 2025 at Shaheed Smruti Bhavan, Baripada.

A total of 280 senior citizens from various senior citizens’ associations across Mayurbhanj district participated in the event. The celebration included a yoga camp, a health check-up camp, and a stage play performance dedicated to the welfare of senior citizens.

In the yoga camp, Brahmananda Nayak, the District Patanjali Yoga In-charge, taught different yoga techniques and explained their benefits. During the health camp, specialists from seven departments—Medicine, Surgery, Orthopedics, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat), and Dentistry—conducted medical check-ups for the senior citizens.

A meeting was also organized at Shaheed Smruti Bhavan to honor and recognize the elderly. All senior citizens present were felicitated with shawls and flower bouquets.

The meeting was graced by Hon’ble Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Smt. Mamata Mahanta as the chief guest, while Baripada Municipality Chairman Krishnananda Mohanty, Additional District Magistrate Dukhbandhu Nayak, and Sub-Collector Dr. Dayasindhu Parida served as special guests and keynote speakers. Other distinguished guests included Additional Superintendent of Police Gautam Kishan and Additional Chief District Medical Officer Dr. Bijay Kumar Dash. All of them spoke about the importance of celebrating Senior Citizens’ Day and the need for care and respect towards the elderly.

During the event, Shyam Sundar Dash, Secretary of the Mayurbhanj Senior Citizens’ Association, along with other association secretaries, addressed the gathering. They discussed how to make government welfare schemes more accessible to the elderly and suggested to the government that separate queues be arranged for senior citizens in banks and hospitals, and dedicated seating areas be provided at bus stands.

On this occasion, former army officer Prashant Kumar Mandal of Udala and senior advocate and social worker Rasananda Lenka of Pasuda village (Gopabandhu Nagar block) were honored for their contributions. Additionally, students who excelled in the essay writing competition organized to mark the Senior Citizens’ Day celebration were awarded prizes.

The event concluded with a cultural program, in which “Bastav Parivar, Baripada” staged an emotionally moving play titled Ashubh Lagna (Unfortunate Marriage).

The meeting was chaired by District Social Security Officer Ranjit Soren and conducted by Rajesh Das, an artist from Bastav Parivar.

Officials and staff from the Department of Social Security, R.D.A.C., ROSE, Manovikash, and the School for the Blind, Mute, and Deaf (Lakshmiposi) played a key role in successfully organizing the event.