Hosted by Ms.Pramila Mohapatra, Cancer Survivor, orthopaedic impaired, elderly representative from Tapovan Basti Barabari, Ward 63. Panelists - Mr.Jugal Kishore Sahoo, General Secretary, Odisha Senior Citizen Association, Ms.Kanaklata Biswal, SDA President, elder individual from Radhakrushna Ka, Ward 46 Pramila Mohapatra: Welcome to our podcast focusing on older persons in emergencies and calling for climate action. I am Pramila Mohapatra, your host, sharing experiences and insights today. During Cyclone FANI, I faced challenges like finding safe water and toilets. In 1999's super cyclone, I used a bicycle to rescue many elders, including my mother, to a safe shelter. Before the cyclone, I worked at Konark Television and afterward, I taught 40 students voluntarily, who later continued teaching others. Kanaklata Biswal shared her experience that she faced difficulties to access the toilets during the heavy rainfall because her toilet was flooded. so she adapted to construct the high raised toilets and now she is benefitted. She also shared a incident in last FANI, her house was collapsed and her daughter in law was pregnant so her family members shifted to a nearest shelter home. Jugal Kishore Sahoo from Odisha Senior Citizen Association highlighted about that elder individuals are facing physical, psychological and financial abuse within the home. Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, which protects older people's rights. He proposed to involve youth groups and caregivers to provide care and support to senior citizens at the time of disasters. Civil society organisations, government can approach to educational institutions to teach students on behavioral aspects towards older individuals. Let us spread awareness about this Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act among senior citizens because out of 100 (hundred) older individuals, only 8 (eight) persons informed about this act.
