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10 Old Age Homes planned

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Stating that the Delhi Government was committed to ensuring respect, care and protection for all senior citizens in the Capital to enable them to live with purpose, peace and dignity, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit announced on Saturday that 10 new Old Age Homes would be set up in the Capital shortly.

Addressing a meeting of senior citizens in the Delhi Secretariat, Ms. Dikshit said there is need to determine minimum standards of service to senior citizens and increasing awareness about their problems so that they may get social and financial security. "It is the attempt and determination of the Delhi Government to ensure courteous and helpful approach towards the senior citizens."

The Chief Minister said the Delhi Government would provide all possible help to senior citizens in hospitals, public transport buses apart from creating atmosphere conducive to giving due respect to more than seven lakh senior citizens in Delhi. The Delhi Government would soon increase the Old Age Pension from Rs. 350 to Rs. 500 per month.

The meeting was organised to discuss a draft State Policy for senior citizens.

A number of suggestions such as issuance of photo identity cards to senior citizens and need for courtesy in Government offices to them, identifying five major old age diseases, short stay homes for aged, sensitization of younger generation for looking after the needs of aged persons and adequate security to those aged persons who are living alone were presented in the meeting.

A senior Delhi Police officer informed that a separate security cell for the aged persons has been working since last year. The telephone numbers of the Helplines for senior citizens are 1091 and 1291. It was also stated that out of the total cases referred to the special cell, 40 per cent related to family disputes and only 4 per cent were distress calls.

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