Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said it is the responsibility of us all to honour and respect the older people and to be grateful for the works they have carried out and their contribution in the past.

Addressing to the programme marking the First National Senior Citizens Day, 2021 here today, he expressed the belief that this Day will inspire us all to emphasize on the secured and dignified living of the senior citizens by increasing respect, honour and reverence towards them.

Although 11th of the Nepali month Poush has been marked as the Senior Citizens Day since 2051 BS (1994), the Day is being celebrated nationwide as the National Senior Citizens Day for the first time around the theme - 'Respect to Senior Citizen: Identity of Civilized Citizen'. Noting that the senior citizens are the leading figure and an important social heritage of any society, Prime Minister Deuba said, "We have arrived in the present situation following on the way they have shown and taught us."

PM Deuba said a society which does not accord due respect and dignity to the senior citizens and that does not recall and appreciate the contribution that they have made to our society and nation could not be termed as a civilized society. "The Government of Nepal from this year on has decided to celebrate today (Poush 11 every year) as the National Senior Citizens Day in order to express respect to the senior citizens and to further ensure their rights and interests," Prime Minister Deuba declared.