Senior citizens in Mumbai plan to start a toll-free helpline for the elderly from next month, which will be run by the Federation of Senior Citizen’s Organisations and Helpage India.
Prakash Borgaonkar of Helpage India said that the decision was made after the police helpline for the elderly service shut down a few months ago.“We are associated with the police. But one day, our volunteers were told that they were not needed,” said Borgaonkar. The service will soon be revived. The helpline is expected to start from October 1. The Federation of Senior Citizen’s Association estimates that almost 10 million elderly people live alone. In Mumbai, one million elderly live alone.
Organisations working with the elderly have asked them to inform local police stations if they are stay alone.
“Many think that the policemay pass on the information to criminals. Police have to regain their trust,” said Dr SP Kinjawadekar of the Federation of Senior Citizen’s Organisation.
Kinjawadekar who met state home minister RR Patil on Friday said that police have agreed to restart the defunct helpline and also set up such services in every district.
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