The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Helpdesk for senior citizens

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Helpdesk for senior citizens

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: Elderly, indigent people can now approach the Elders' Helpline office on the premises of Police Commissioner's office with a ration card or a voter identity card and proof of their income. The helpline will assist the person to fill a form and then process the application to get him or her Rs. 200 a month as a pension from the State Government.

Police Commissioner Ajai Kumar Singh on Monday inaugurated a helpdesk that would take care of all the hazels associated with processing the application to help senior citizens to get pension.

Apart from filling the forms, the helpline (phone 1090) would provide assistance in getting medical certificates, arranging photographs for identity cards, opening bank accounts, submitting supporting documents and also take follow-up action.

Mr. Singh expressed concern over the problems faced by senior citizens. He said the helpline, which was run by Nightingales Medical Trust, was receiving more complaints from elders regarding harassment by their family members.

Some senior citizens participating in the programme expressed their anger over lack of concern of the Government machinery towards the problems of senior citizens. They picked loopholes in the pension scheme.

R. Nagaraj said the scheme insists that poor people produce an address proof and an income certificate to get the benefit. "How can a person, who is toiling on the streets of the city, get these documents? Can you expect such people come all the way to the helpdesk to get the pension?" he asked. Mr. Nagaraj wanted the Government to make modifications in the scheme to help destitute senior citizens.

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