JK News Today
Jammu, 04 Nov 2025: The Department of Economics, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Central University of Jammu (CUJ), in collaboration with the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, successfully organised a Two-Day National Workshop-cum-Seminar on “Elderly Issues” at the Brigadier Rajendra Singh Auditorium, CU Jammu. The event brought together a distinguished group of academicians, policymakers, researchers, civil society representatives, and students to deliberate on pressing concerns related to India’s ageing population—ranging from healthcare and social security to intergenerational solidarity and elderly rights.
Preceding the main event, two pre-conference activities were held to build academic engagement and research capacity among participants. During the event, a vibrant University-level Debate Competition on Elderly Issues saw students passionately discuss challenges such as economic insecurity, social neglect, and the role of youth in fostering inclusive ageing. This was followed by a pre-conference workshop on “Handling Large Datasets (LASI, NSS) Using STATA”, led by Dr. Pratap C. Mohanty, Associate Professor, IIT Roorkee. The hands-on training provided participants with analytical skills to work with large-scale datasets, promoting evidence-based research in gerontology and ageing studies.
The seminar formally commenced with an Inaugural Session graced by Prof. Sanjeev Jain, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of CU Jammu, as the Chief Guest, and Dr. C. Roul, IAS (Retd.), Former Secretary, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, Government of India, as the Guest of Honour. Delivering the welcome address, Prof. A.K. Nanda, Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences and Coordinator of the seminar, outlined the objectives of the event, emphasising the need to link research and policy to improve the quality of life for senior citizens.
In his address, Vice Chancellor Prof. Sanjeev Jain commended the Department of Economics for addressing a socially relevant theme, lauding the initiative as an example of the University’s commitment to community-centred scholarship. He stressed the importance of intergenerational solidarity and scientific understanding of ageing as India moves towards a demographic shift. Dr. Roul, in his remarks, appreciated the workshop’s dual focus on academic dialogue and outreach, stating that such efforts “reflect the spirit of evidence-based policymaking and compassion essential for an inclusive society.”The concluding remarks were delivered by Prof. Yashwant Singh, Registrar, CU Jammu. He also highlighted the achievements and milestones of CU Jammu under the patronage and leadership of Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Sanjeev Jain. The two-day programme featured a series of technical sessions that examined ageing through multiple lenses—economic, social, legal, health-related, and biological.
On the first day, five technical sessions were held covering themes such as Social Security and Pension Reforms, Intergenerational Solidarity, Gendered Ageing, and Psychological Well-being. These sessions were chaired by Prof. Asit Mantry, Head, Dept of Educational Studies, CUJ; Prof. Vandana Sharma, Dean, School of Languages, CUJ; Dr. Narendra Kumar, Associate Professor and Director, Centre for Molecular Biology, CUJ; Prof. Neelika Arora, Dean, School of Business Studies, CUJ; Dr. Dhananjay Kumar, Associate Professor, Department of Zoology, CUJ. Eminent speakers including Prof. Falendra K. Sudan (University of Jammu), Prof. Susanta Padhy (AIIMS Bhubaneswar),Prof. T.V. Shekher (IIPS Mumbai) and Prof. Sanjay Mohanty (IIPS Mumbai) presented data-driven insights into pension policies, healthcare gaps, and evolving family structures. The sessions highlighted the need for universal pension coverage, gender-sensitive ageing interventions, and mental health support systems for older adults. Discussions also shed light on loneliness, economic independence, and regional disparities in self-reported health among the elderly.
The second day of the seminar expanded on policy and community engagement perspectives through two technical sessions and a special Workshop for the Elderly. Session VI, chaired by Prof. Jaya Bhasin (Dean, School of Business Studies, CUJ), delved into disease burden, health-seeking behaviour, and socio-economic correlates of ageing, while Session VII, chaired by FormerProf. Keshab Das (GIDR), focused on “Towards Viksit Bharat 2047: Rethinking Elderly Care and Economic Well-being.” Notable speakers such as Dr. Sunil K. Gulati, IAS (Retd.), Dr. Pratap C. Mohanty (IIT Roorkee), Ms. Preeti Gupta (CUJ)and Dr. Vikas Singh (CUJ)offered policy frameworks for ensuring financial and health security for senior citizens in the context of India’s development vision.
A major highlight of the concluding day was the Workshop for the Elderly, conducted by Dr. Rajesh Kumar from HelpAge India. The session engaged directly with senior citizens, caregivers, and students to raise awareness about elderly rights, legal protections, and welfare schemes under the Government of India. Participants discussed the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act (2007), digital inclusion for elders, and access to health and pension benefits. The workshop underscored the value of empathy, intergenerational understanding, and informed citizenship in creating age-inclusive communities.
The Valedictory Session, held today featured Dr. Sunil K. Gulati, IAS (Retd.), as the Chief Guest. He lauded the University for blending rigorous academic deliberation with social responsibility and congratulated the organising team for addressing such a crucial issue with depth and compassion. Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Prof. Sanjeev Jain, in his concluding remarks, praised the Department of Economics for successfully hosting a national-level event that combined empirical research, technical training, and community outreach. He noted that the discussions and outcomes of the seminar would contribute significantly to shaping inclusive policy frameworks for India’s ageing population.
The event concluded with renewed commitment to promote interdisciplinary research, public awareness, and policy advocacy on ageing and elderly care. The workshop-cum-seminar also set the foundation for future collaborations between Central University of Jammu, NISD, and other national institutions working in the field of social defence and elderly welfare.
Prof. A.K. Nanda, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Dr. Vishal, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Economics, CUJ, coordinated the programme, which was actively supported by the faculty members Dr. Shaveta Kohli, Dr. Susanta Nag, Ms. Preeti Gupta, Dr. Anil K. Bharti and Dr. Anooj along with the student coordinators Sujeet, Nandani, Sambhavna, Anshika, Ishika, Pavneet, Tanvir and Tanishwar of the Department of Economics. The success of the programme was ensured by the active and enthusiastic participation of all the students and research scholars of the Department of Economics.
