National Day for Older Persons Coinciding with the Traditional Thai New Year

(13/04/2012)

April 13, Songkran Day, is the traditional Thai New Year, coinciding with the National Day for Older Persons. April 13 was picked as Thailand’s National Day for Older Persons to underline the significance of older persons and to show gratitude and respect to them. The Thai government designated the National Day for Older Persons on 14 December 1982, after ageing as a policy issue received international recognition at the first World Assembly on Ageing held in Vienna, Austria, in the same year. The tradition of respecting the senior generation is regarded as a national trait passed on from generation to generation. It shows that young people are aware of the value and importance of the elderly. During this festival, people from rural areas who are working in the city usually return home to visit and pay respect to their elders. In celebration of the National Day for the Older Persons, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has designated April as the month for organizing various activities for older persons. Among the activities is the presentation of the award to the national older person, who is regarded as a role model for Thai society. Dr. Saisuree Chutikul, former Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, has been honored as the 2012 national older person. Aged 78, Dr. Saisuree has long been an ardent champion of the rights of women and gender equality both in Thailand and abroad. She served as a member of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women for the term 2007-2010 and held several important international positions, such as membership to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child for the term 2002-2005. The slogan for the celebration of the National Day for Older Persons 2012 focuses on the theme “Wisdom of Older Persons Leads to Peace and Happiness in Thai Society.” The Government has a policy to provide opportunities for senior citizens to share their experience with younger generations. It wants to see people of different ages – older persons, people of working age, and children – live happily together in harmony. Empowerment of the elderly becomes a necessity owing to the dramatic changes in demographic structure. Like other countries all over the world, Thailand is experiencing fundamental demographic changes, and the number of working older persons is on the rise. Older persons are defined as those aged 60 and over. Many senior citizens can still work actively and contribute greatly to society. A report prepared by the National Statistical Office quoted results of a survey that more than three million senior citizens in Thailand are working to earn an income. Most of the working senior citizens are engaged in the informal sector, while almost 10 percent are employed in the formal sector.