Ahmedabad police plead helplessness saying only 782 elderly people have registered for extra security.
The recent attack on two elderly people in Isanpur in a loot attempt has again raised questions about safety and security of our senior citizens. It should be noted that elderly people living alone in Ahmedabad are required to register with the police so that the police can be extra alert about their security.
However, so far only 782 senior citizens have bothered to register themselves with the police. Sources in the police said that, of this, only 750 currently live in the city; the rest had either gone abroad or died.
The sources further said that as the city's police force is often hard-pressed for staff, police personnel are unable to even pay the registered senior citizens the routine visit required of them.
Police complain the senior citizens don't bother to get themselves registered but they are reasons why not many have registered.
"Eight percent of the city's population is elderly but only a small number of senior citizens have registered with the police. And even when they do register, the police don't bother to visit them. In this backdrop, the rise in number of attacks should not come as a surprise," said Anil Massey, senior manager, HelpAge India, Ahmedabad.
Interestingly, several of the NGOs claiming to be working for the police had made a representation to the police but they have now disappeared from the scene. "This means there is no link between the elderly and the police," a source said.
To give some examples, Raghaviji Bapa Charitable Trust has closed shop while one Agrawal Seva Samiti could not be contacted.
"Around eleven such organisations claiming to work for the elderly had registered with the police but most of them are now not functioning," said the source.
"A senior citizen is attacked every 10 days in the city. They are easy targets, physically weak and usually living alone," the source added. The source further said that the police need to improve their visibility in areas where there is a higher concentration of elderly people. The highest number of senior citizens were registered with Gujarat University police station (78) followed by Satellite police station (50).
Maninder Singh Pawar, DCP Zone-6, said they plan to create a database of the number of senior citizens in their area using the voter identity card.
"We plan to prepare a database and work with the government on this issue. It would have been helpful if NGOs had approached us but they haven't," said Pawar.
Sandeep Singh, DCP Zone-I, said they plan to take it up on a priority basis.
SOFT TARGETS
Usha Solanki was killed at her home in Shyamtirth Aptts in Satellite area on January 24, 2011 in a loot attempt.
Sana and Sharda Patel living in Deep Villa bungalows near Ambli railway station was stabbed on March 7, 2011, also in a loot attempt.
Shilpa Modi was attacked on March 9 near Loyola School and robbed of her bangles.
Tarnika Patel, a resident of Ghatlodia, was murdered at her home two months ago
SENIORS’ ACCOUNT
Hariprasad and his wife, Sridevi Shastri (in pic above), live in a house in Ambawadi. The couple live alone as their son is in the United States. They said they don't feel threatened as the police regularly visit them. "Moreover, we keep in touch with our neighbours and don't isolate ourselves. Hence they, too, look out for us," said Hariprasad Shastri.
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