SAPLINGS DISTRIBUTED TO PENSIONERS UNDER “EK PED MAA KE NAAM” CAMPAIGN

The Office of the Controller of Communication Accounts, Punjab Telecom Circle, Ministry of Communications, Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, celebrated National Senior Citizens Day on Thursday at U.T. Guest House, Sector-1, Chandigarh, to honour the invaluable services rendered by pensioners during their tenure.

The programme commenced with a welcome address by Sh. Akshay Gupta, Deputy Controller, who outlined the initiatives organised for the occasion. These included a lecture on mental well-being and better lifestyle by Dr. Manjeet Singh Trehan, MD, Fortis Medcenter, Chandigarh; a video presentation on the usage of Jeevan Pramaan App and SAMPANN App; a cultural programme in the form of Kavya Goshti; an interactive session for pensioners to share their experiences; felicitation of super senior citizens; and distribution of tree saplings.

The event was chaired by Ms. Divya A.B., Director, Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare, New Delhi. Applauding the efforts of the O/o CCA Punjab, she emphasized that National Senior Citizens Day 2025 is dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges faced by senior citizens and honouring their immense contribution to nation-building. She encouraged celebrating the day by spending time with seniors, organising community events, and advocating for resources to ensure their well-being. She also highlighted various measures and policies recently introduced by the Government of India for the welfare of pensioners.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Mandeep Singh, Joint CCA, elaborated on the theme of National Senior Citizens Day 2025, “Empowering Elderly Voices for an Inclusive Future.” He underlined the importance of recognising and amplifying the perspectives, experiences, and wisdom of senior citizens in building an inclusive society. He informed that the office has been serving more than ten thousand departmental pensioners across Punjab by ensuring timely disbursement of pensions, organising welfare camps to disseminate information on government initiatives, and conducting health camps and talks as an added social service measure.

The programme concluded with the felicitation of Super Senior Pensioners as a mark of respect. In alignment with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s campaign “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam,” tree saplings were distributed to pensioners, symbolising both gratitude and a commitment to sustainability.