India's first Elderly Commission to take charge on Wednesday; K Somaprasad as chairperson

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: For the first time in the country, a State Elderly Commission has been formed and will take charge on Wednesday. The five-member commission will be chaired by former Rajya Sabha MP, former Kollam District Panchayat President and social activist K Somaprasad. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at 11 am on Wednesday in the Durbar Hall of the Government Secretariat. Minister R Bindu will inaugurate the swearing-in ceremony and felicitation for the commission members.

The other members of the first Kerala State Elderly Commission are Amaravila Ramakrishnan (General Secretary of Senior Citizens Friends Welfare Association), E.M. Radha (Women’s Commission member and social worker), K.N.K. Namboothiri (writer and Working President of the Senior Citizens Service Council), and Prof. Lopez Mathew (former college teacher, Kottayam District Panchayat member, and Syndicate member of CUSAT and MG University).

The commission has been set up to provide guidance on the welfare and rights of senior citizens and to help ensure rehabilitation support for them.

MLA Adv. Antony Raju will preside over the ceremony. MP Dr. Shashi Tharoor, MLA and Chairman of the Legislative Committee on Senior Citizens’ Welfare K.P. Kunhammed Kutty Master, along with MLAs P. Abdul Hameed, C.K. Harindran, Ahmed Devarkovil, Job Michael, K.P. Mohanan, P. Mammikutty, and T.J. Vinod will attend as special invitees. Social Justice Department Special Secretary Adeel Abdullah will deliver the welcome address, and Social Justice Director Arun S. Nair will propose the vote of thanks.