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Elders Council is an Important Tool of People Power

20.04.2020 17:19 2282

Elders Council is an assembly of elderly and respected people who have learned from experience. This council meets to discuss the life of the community. Basically, the tasks of the Council of Elders are to preserve and popularize traditions and customs, to inculcate spiritual and moral values in young people, to identify and help solve the problems of the older generation.

Since time immemorial, Kazakhs have had vital issues to solve at a general council with the most worthy, worldly-wise countrymen. This wise tradition, based on deep respect for the opinion of the older generation, their unwavering authority among the people, has become an important part of the social and state structure of our country.

There is an Elders Council under the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan. Every region establishes its council and elects members out of respected elders. The Elders of Council in Nur-Sultan was established last year. The establishment of Elders Council is a requirement of the time.

The Council of Elders was also established at the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan in Nur-Sultan. "This Council will not only help the capital's Assembly, but will also be a tool that will make a significant contribution to the solution of social issues that are emerging in the country as a whole. Every nation has resorted to councils of elders at all times. Therefore, the decision to establish such an organization is a continuation of a glorious tradition” said the Head of capital’s assembly.

Baigeldy Omirbek, a public figure, was elected as chairman of the Elders Council. Baigeldy Omirbek is also a member of the Council of Senators of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a deputy of several convocations of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a corresponding member of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences, as well as a corresponding member of the International Engineering Academy and the Engineering Academy of Kazakhstan.

"From early childhood I grew up in an atmosphere of unity, friendship and care. The families of the deported peoples initially did not let their children out on the street to play with us. Having gone through the sufferings of forced displacement from their native places, passing through all the pain of losses of relatives and close ones from the heavy road, diseases and similar attitude of the authorities of those times, the deported peoples could not open and trust the local ones at once. For a long time, they were unable to establish contact. It was not until sometime later that a boy came out into the street, quite hungry and in complete despair. He looked at us and held out his palms. Immediately guessing what he was asking, we without hesitation shared ‘kurt’ (salty cottage cheese) with him. When we saw that the boy did not understand what he had been given, we said to him to eat in a friendly manner. He tasted the "unknown object" and immediately ran home. After a while, he came back to us again and stretched out his palms again. Thus, he wore a jacket to his home," shares memories Omirbek.

"I am engaged in scientific research of social inequality in countries of the world even being retired. I have visited seventy countries. The country that stands for peace and harmony is the country loved by the creator. I have great respect for my people. We have the great honour of saving peoples who have fallen victim to the political system. We have witnessed the difficult times they have been able to endure. We are glad when the descendants of the repressed migrants are now proud of what they, Kazakhstanis, call their homeland Kazakhstan. Each ethnos has its own unique values. Therefore, we must promote and popularise this this," the elder said.

Omirbek Baigali, a native of Kyzyl Oktyabr village, became the first head of Zhambyl region when Kazakhstan gained independence. Subsequently, Omirbek Baigeldi became an adviser to the president, first speaker of the Senate and was actively involved in forming the country's legislative power and establishing an independent republic.

During the meeting the composition of the Council of 17 people was presented, plans for 2020 were discussed.

In 2020, representatives of the Elders Council were actively involved in the work on the Year of Volunteer. Among the members of the Elders Council, mentors have been identified for volunteers in education, health care, social protection, mediation, sports, etc. Mentors will provide counseling and information support to volunteers throughout the year.

The Elders Council has regular activities: round tables, meetings, and meetings aimed at activating the older generation, as well as the transfer of experience to the youth.