Noting the growing population of senior citizens in the country, Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao today expressed need for a 'comprehensive plan' for their physical, financial and emotional safety and well-being.
"Any shortfall in meeting the needs of senior citizens would result in denial of human rights to them," Rao said while addressing the International Human Rights Day celebrations organised by Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) here.
Stating that the population of senior citizens is projected to grow to 173 million by 2026, Rao said it was time to wake up to the problems of senior citizens and to come up with a plan for their safety and well-being.
Asserting that poverty is the biggest violator of human rights, he called for protecting the workers in the organised sector, particularly girls and women from economically backward classes, who according to him, are "extremely vulnerable to human rights violations."
Mumbai University Vice Chancellor Sanjay Deshmukh said that the varsity is offering an online certificate programme in Human Rights through the Department of Law at University of Mumbai.
MSHRC chairman Justice S R Bannurmath briefed about the various initiatives taken by the Commission to redress the grievances of violation of human rights by public servants during the last two years.
Commission member Bhagwantrao More and Principal Secretary Amitabh Joshi were present.
The International Human Rights Day commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United National General Assembly on 10th December 1948 in Paris.
