Former Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac has suggested that steps be taken to develop Kozhikode as a ‘city for the elderly’ like how it got the City of Literature tag recently.
He was participating in a panel discussion held as part of the ongoing ‘Vayojanolsavam 2023’ at the Kozhikode beach on Tuesday. The theme was ‘Elderly friendly city: vision, scope and hurdles’. A. Pradeepkumar, former MLA, moderated the session.
Mr. Isaac said that when Kerala was formed, most policies centred around children and youth. Right now, Kerala is among the most child-friendly States in the country. He said the interests and capabilities of senior citizens should be utilised for the development of society. There could be different types of elderly people, like those aged above 60, and people who are confined to their homes. They should have local resting places and neighbourhood groups. The skills of the elderly in engineering, education, and health should be utilised. This would help improve the educational standards in the State on the lines of Finland, Mr. Isaac added.
