Himachal police to reach out to elderly

Shimla: After instances of senior citizens being subjected to neglect and abuse, the Himachal Pradesh Police is contemplating to launch a scheme. Under the scheme, telephone numbers of helpless elderly people would be collected from across the state and calls would be made to them from the state police headquarters to know about their well-being and to provide necessary assistance.
Himachal Pradesh DGP S R Mardi said that the state police had around 15 years back launched “Sanrakshan” scheme to help the elderly needy people.Now, a new scheme is being contemplated to gather the telephone numbers of elderly people to extend them the help they need.
Addressing a gathering of elderly people at an event to mark “World Elder Abuse Awareness Day” at Shimla on Friday, Mardi said that during emergencies, the elderly people can call 112 for any police assistance. The event was organized by HelpAge India,
Himachal Pradesh has elderly population of 7,13,172 and their annual population growth is 3.1%, and by 2026, their population is estimated to reach about 1.1 million or about 15% of the state’s total population.
Dr Rajesh Kumar, state head of HelpAge India, said that in Himachal Pradesh, cases of harassment and abuse of elderly people are rising and their organization is receiving calls where children do not want to keep their aged parents with them and request to shift them to old age homes.