Minister of State for Education, Technical Education and Culture Priya Sethi, today stressing on the need to ensure inclusion of grandparents in day to day lives of children said that grandparenting is the most important family role of the new century.“ Grandparents besides being the living ancestor are also the family historian, teacher, mentor, role model, nurturer, crony, pal and the fellow conspirator for the grandchild and it is essential that we urge our children to treasure the time they have with their grandparents and use this opportunity to learn from their rich experiences”, Priya Sethi added.The Minister was speaking at the Grandparents Day celebrations organized by Dewan Devi Playway/Higher Secondary School, Jammu.Addressing the gathering, the Minister said that grandparents are a resource outside a child's nuclear family, someone to whom the child can turn when she needs additional support, comfort or encouragement.Priya Sethi said that with the advancement in science and technology and increased longevity, better healthcare, the children today have an opportunity to get to know there grandparents well into their adulthood and soak in their vast knowledge and experience.
She urged the students to respect their grandparents and use this treasure trove to stay connected with their tradition, culture and heritage adding that no society can grow forward without taking lessons from the past along.She also said that with modernization, the classical skills and crafts are dying and grandparents can teach their grandchildren skills like woodworking, baking, sewing, knitting which will not only help to keep these cultural crafts alive but also connect the families together.During the event, the students presented a commendable cultural extravaganza with full enthusiasm and enthralled the audience with their performances.Besides a large gathering of parents, grandparents and students, many prominent personalities were also present on the occasion including senior political leader Yudhvir Sethi, Chander Mohan Gupta, and Manmohan Singh.Later the Minster also distributed mementos, cash prizes to outstanding students for excelling in different fields. Free uniforms were also distributed to the needy students during the event.