MANISH KUMAR, OP
Bhubaneswar, May 8: Over the past two decades, the positive psychology movement has contributed to psychological research with its science of happiness, human potential along with flourishing. More than just positive mood, happiness is a state of comfort which en- compasses living a good life. In other words, it denotes living a life with a sense of meaning and deep satisfaction. Studies have shown shows that happiness is not the simply bouncing from one joy to the next; achieving happiness typically involves times of considerable discomfort.
Keeping this in view, Odisha government has been working on a project to ensure that the happi- ness index of the elderly in the state is amplified without shelling out any extra money. The Department of Social Securities and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) is currently working on a project named ‘anti-ageing centre for the elderly’ with the aim to bring all their necessary services compli- mented with activity centres under one umbrella. Officials involved in the project claim that works relating to the same has already commenced and the centre is slated to come up in
the state within the next three months. According to plans, the proposed ‘anti-ageing centre for the elderly’
will provide an array of services such as therapeutic, counseling, lim- ited diagnostic services. While doc- tors will be made available at these centres for consultation and treatment, they will also offer rejuvenation serv- ices like library and seminar halls to the elderly.
Talking about the ambitious project, SSEPD secretary Niten Chandra told Orissa POST, “The project has already been approved and is currently in the execution phase. We are working on the set up now. We have planned to pro- vide all necessary support to the elderly free of cost so that they can spend quality time at the centre, which will offer all supportive services at a single point.” The centre would, however, not serve as a residential premise, but as a hub where the elderly can visit
daily. Initially, the centre will have a capacity to cater to the needs of around 250 elderly persons daily. However, the government plans to increase the activity, interaction and supportive machinery of the centre gradually. As per the 2011 Census, the state is home to 39,84,000 elderly per- sons (above 60 years), which com- prise 9.5 per cent of the total pop- ulation of Odisha. While the life expectancy at birth in the state stood at 63.8 and 65.9 for males and females respectively for the period between 2009 and 2013. According to the office of Registrar General of India, the old-age dependency ratio in Odisha stands at 15.4.