Bengaluru: Clad in formals and armed with updated CVs, over 1,250 senior citizens gathered at the ‘Jobs 60+’ job fair in Bengaluru on Sunday. Organised by Nightingales Medical Trust in collaboration with Rotary Bangalore West and St. Joseph’s University, the event provided a platform for elderly individuals to explore employment opportunities and regain financial independence.
The majority of attendees were motivated by the need to stay occupied and self-sufficient, with many also seeking to address financial challenges. For Syed Anjum, a 56-year-old trader with 25 years of experience in a leadership role, the job fair represented a crucial opportunity to improve his financial situation.
Similarly, Vasanthalakshmi and Sundar Raman, both in their mid-60s, were keen to find jobs that would help them meet their daily needs. “We don’t have children. My husband worked at an optical shop, and I was an accounts manager for a private company. After retirement, it has become really difficult for us to afford the rent and other bills with soaring inflation,” Vasanthalakshmi shared.
While financial necessity was a common theme among attendees, some participants like Shyama, a 66-year-old retired schoolteacher, were driven by a desire to learn new skills and remain independent. “I don’t see myself being dependent on my daughter or son. I’d rather explore something new,” she asserted.
Others, such as Padmashri and Sanjay K, both former tech professionals, were seeking roles that aligned with their social interests. Padmashri expressed a keen interest in working with organisations focused on women’s empowerment.
The job fair offered 1,077 positions from 72 employers across various sectors, including engineering, marketing, administration, accounts, supervisory, and security roles. Additionally, there were 1,450 self-employment opportunities, primarily in insurance.
Since its inception in 2011, the ‘Jobs 60+’ fair has successfully placed 3,500 senior citizens aged between 55 and 70 years in various jobs, according to the organisers.
Karthik Ganesh, Head of Sales at Saira Jobs, a Bengaluru-based startup focused on upskilling senior citizens, specially-abled individuals, and women returning to the workforce, acknowledged the challenges of integrating elderly employees into modern workplaces. “Bringing them in line with company objectives and analysing their credentials can be a difficult task for HR professionals,” he noted. However, he emphasised that the experience and dedication of senior staff can add significant value to startups in need of talented individuals willing to work for a basic salary.
Dr. Radha S. Murthy, co-founder and managing trustee of Nightingales Medical Trust, highlighted the pressing need for such initiatives. She noted that as of 2021, nearly 89 per cent of India’s 138 million senior citizens were not covered under any social security scheme post-retirement, leaving them reliant on savings and family support.
The job fair underscored the growing demand for employment opportunities among the elderly, as well as the critical role such initiatives play in ensuring their financial security and well-being.