Government to Create ‘Senior Citizens’ Experience Bank’

Kathmandu : The Ministry of Women, Children, Senior Citizens and Social Security has begun the process of establishing a ‘Senior Citizens’ Experience Bank’ to document the knowledge, skills and life experiences of senior citizens and pass them on to younger generations.

The ministry unveiled the concept on the occasion of the 36th International Day of Older Persons, with a focus on preserving and transferring the experiences of senior citizens through digital technology.

Minister for Women, Children, Senior Citizens and Social Security Sita Badi said the knowledge, skills and life lessons accumulated by senior citizens are important intellectual and social assets of the nation.

According to her, the Experience Bank will systematically document knowledge and experiences related to agriculture, entrepreneurship, education, administration, arts and culture, traditional knowledge and practical life skills.

The ministry plans to develop the Experience Bank as a digital platform through which students, youths and younger generations can access knowledge and guidance from senior citizens. The initiative is expected to ensure that knowledge accumulated over decades is preserved and made useful to future generations.

Minister Badi said senior citizens should not be viewed only as beneficiaries of social security and care, but also as knowledge providers and experienced partners in society.

The ministry said changing family structures, migration and urbanisation have created new challenges for senior citizens, including issues related to health, loneliness, care and social participation. Ensuring a safe, dignified and meaningful life for senior citizens requires a shared role from families, communities and the state, it said.

According to the ministry, the ‘Senior Citizens’ Experience Bank’ will help expand the concept of respect for senior citizens beyond care and protection by preserving their lifelong knowledge and experiences and facilitating their transfer to younger generations.