COIMBATORE: Though a city chosen by senior citizens to settle down, Coimbatore has no mechanism to safeguard its elderly.

When 89-year-old Janaki Bai developed breathing problems at night, her 63-year-old daughter-in-law had to rely on an auto rickshaw driver to reach the hospital.

No helplines

While there are helplines for women and children, none exist for the aged. "In case of an emergency, medical or otherwise, there is nobody to turn to," says 70-year-old M. Vania, who lives with his wife. "In our area, there are 60-70 houses with just a gurkha on the night watch. We see him once a month, when he comes for the fee."

Theft has occurred in the colony, but only the affluent can afford a watchman on round-the-clock duty, he says.

Hence, most senior citizens prefer apartments, where mechanisms such as screening of visitors are in place.

"There are three watchmen on night duty and strangers are verified through the intercom," says 65-year-old retired professor M.M. Sampigethaya, who lives in an apartment. Apartment builders too are making arrangements to meet the security requirements.

Reputation

Even then, according to A. Sridharan, Director, Kovai Property Centre, "In-house security personnel are not accountable and often not trained to meet the threats envisaged."

Since Coimbatore still has a reputation of being a safe city, security is often not given priority. Still, for the elderly, it would be comforting to know that help is just a telephone call away.

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