Bengaluru : As many as 3,726 senior citizens, aged between 60 and 70, got placed in various companies at a job fair at Palace Grounds on 26 March.
Nearly 7,500 senior citizens from across the city attended the job fair which was conducted by the Karnataka Vocational Training and Skill Development Corporation Ltd and Nightingales Medical Trust. In all, 78 companies offered jobs in management, administration, academics, HR, training, mentoring, accounts, finance and manufacturing for the senior citizens.
M Shivakumar (68), a resident of Chandra Layout, said: “I was working as a typist for several years but now there is no demand after computerization. My daughter got married a few years ago. I don’t have any income so I need a job to take care of my wife”.
“Earlier, I thought that it was difficult to get a job at this age but now there is hope after seeing so many senior citizens here. Age is no bar for work as long as we are healthy,” he said.
Many senior citizens say they need a job as they want to take care of their expenses themselves. K Saravanan (60), a resident of Ulsoor, said: “I am looking for an administrative job since I cannot travel much after a bike accident. I came here to get a suitable job so I don’t need to depend on my family members. Job fairs for senior citizens are very rare now because every company needs young blood”.
Some elderly people say they have been neglected by family members, including their children.
“My son told me that he finds it difficult to manage my expenses as he has other financial commitments. I don’t want to live in an old age home for the rest of the life so I decided to work as long as I can,” says a 63-year-old woman who didn’t want to be identified.
Gopalan Raj (70), a retired school teacher, who came from Yeshwantpur, said: “I have to pay EMI of Rs 25,000 on a house loan. My pension is not sufficient to pay the loan so I am in need of a job.”
Volunteers of Nightingales Medical Trust say the job fair for senior citizens will help them earn a regular income without depending on others.
Note: News shared for public awareness with reference from the information provided at online news portals.
