Celebration of International Day of Older Persons on the 1 st of October , 2016 at Swapnabhor International Day of Older Persons was observed by the Department of CD, WD & SW on the 1 st of October , 2016 at Swapnabhor, Senior Citizens’ Park and Rabindratirtha Rajarhat. The theme of International Day of Older persons , 2016 is “Take a stand against ageism”. In the context of the rising senior population of the World, ageism which relegates the senior citizens to the fringes of society , excluding them from decision making and creates and stereotypes of senile doddering people, is an area of concern. This year the the Department of Child Development and Women Development & Social Welfare, Government of West Bengal observed the day by inviting some senior citizen inmates of Old Age Homes, and arranging for them to spend the day in a different way. A programme was held at Swapnabhor Senior Citizens’ Park and Rabindra Tirtha, Rajarhat .The programme was attended by the Secretary CD, WD &SW, Chairman WBHIDCO, Chairperson WB commission for protection of Child Rights , Chairperson WB Women’s Development Undertaking and, Vice Chairperson West Bengal Transgender Board, representatives of Voluntary organisations like CMIG, Helpage India and All Bengal Women’s Union. As part of the programme, the film Saptapadi was screened at Rabindratirtha and the permanent exhibitions on the life , times and works of Rabindranath Tagore were available for viewing for the Senior Citizens. A token of respect was be handed over to the Senior citizens by the the Hon’ble MOS (IC), Department of CD, WD &SW, Government of West Bengal. A new portal for Social Welfare Pension Schemes was also launched by the Hon’ble MOS (IC). .