Udaipur, Apr 8 (PTI) Former president Ram Nath Kovind said on Monday that in the changing times, the tradition of joint family has almost ended and people need to think about it.

"In today's era, due to increasing disintegration in the family and ambitions to attain material comforts, the youth of the family often leave the elderly parents of the family alone and go in search of employment and financial benefits," he said.

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"Another reason for the elderly living alone at home is that earlier there used to be a tradition of joint family in our country. But gradually with the changing times, this tradition almost ended. We need to brainstorm on this," he said.

Kovind was addressing a program organised at Draupadi Devi Anand Old Age Home of Tara Sansthan in Udaipur.

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He said the elderly are not a burden but they are an asset.

"They are a wealth of experience. They are our property. Not only this, the presence of elders is an assurance. Elders are very useful in a family," he said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)