Mar 15, Kathmandu - To enhance the well-being of its senior citizens, Sunaryavinayak Municipality has launched the ‘Support for Health and Elders’ project in collaboration with Nepal Red Cross Society’s district branch in Bhaktapur and with financial support from the Swiss Red Cross.

Municipal Chief Vasudev Thapa announced that the initiative aims to improve the health, social participation, and community friendliness for the elderly, fostering protection and inclusivity for senior residents within the municipality.

As part of the project, a five-day behavior change training session was held for volunteers selected from each ward, with certificates distributed during the closing ceremony. Thapa emphasized that the municipality is committed to ensuring that no senior citizen within its jurisdiction is deprived of their rights, even stating that services would be withheld if descendants neglect their elders.

“Citizens’ taxes are not being misused,” Thapa stated. “Our goal is to make this municipality child-friendly and elderly-friendly. We have developed infrastructure over the past nine years, and now we are focusing on skill and capacity development for every citizen.” He also pledged to allocate additional budgets to ease the lives of senior citizens.

During the program, Rabindra Sapkota, spokesperson and coordinator of the Social Development Branch, highlighted that despite rapid development over the past nine years, there’s a need for continued effort to ensure all rights and privileges for elders are guaranteed.

Parashuram Pande, President of the Nepal Red Cross Society’s district branch in Bhaktapur, explained that the project aims to improve health services, rights access, and societal treatment of senior citizens, fostering positive social change. He further noted that the Swiss Red Cross’s partnership has been instrumental in implementing this initiative, ensuring the comprehensive rights of the elderly are protected.

This collaborative effort marks a dedicated step toward building a more inclusive and supportive community for Nepal’s senior citizens.