Senior citizens to be taught to be techno-savvy

Kathmandu, July 2: Gone are the days when the technology and modern devices were the prerogatives of the youngsters alone. Now a section of older population in Kathmandu too is learning to acquire literacy education on internet and technology and emerge as a techno-savvy.

Aging Nepal, a social organization working in the field of senior citizens, has initiated a six-month basic literacy course for people aged 60 and over.

The first-of-its-kind initiative in the country saw inaugural today at Budhanilakantha Municipality Ward No 12 in Kapan in the capital city.

A total of 25 senior citizens, mostly women, were enrolled for the first phase of the education where they will be taught how to operate computer, internet/email, mobile phone, remote controller of the television and among other modern devices.

Such programme has already been tried and tested in Mali, Mozambique and Tonga with the support from the United Nations.

Inaugurating the programme, INSEC's Director Diwakar Dhungel said that such an initiative has prodded the government to work in this sector.