Thiruvananthapuram | On the occasion of International Day of Older Persons, Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Thursday highlighted the UDF government's Department of Senior Citizens, the first of its kind in the country

Satheesan, in an X post, said that the department, which was set up as promised by the UDF during its assembly poll campaign, was now operational.

"Good governance and care are not in words, but in deeds," he said.

State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, in a Facebook post on the occasion, said that the day is a reminder that "age does not diminish one's importance".

He said that the voice of older persons should be heard in the family, society and economy and they should not be seen as mere recipients of help.

"They are a great resource who can accurately learn new things and share their experiences with society. Elderly welfare is the responsibility of all generations as old age is the face of today's youth," the minister said.

The Kerala government is taking up elderly care as a comprehensive social responsibility, giving direction to the UN vision of "Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives", he said.

"As we celebrate the 80s and 90s with nostalgia on social media, let's not forget to include the elderly with us. Old age should not be a time of loneliness for anyone, we can help make it a time of smiles. Let's turn old age into a celebration," he said in his post.