President Pranab Mukherjee has said there is an urgent need to mainstream issues concerning the aged and ageing in India. He said the needs and requirements of the elderly should not be overlooked by the society. The President was speaking at a function in New Delhi today on the occasion of International Day of Older Persons, organized by Help Age India. The President said the country must do everything possible to ensure that its elders can live a life of dignity, enjoying the best of medical attention, economic security as well as emotional stability. Stating that India is what it is today because of the contributions of its elders in their youth, the President said elderly people should not be considered a spent force. He said the society and the government should be sensitized to the fact that old age is just another phase of life with its special needs and characteristics like childhood and youth.