Srinagar 27 August (KNB): Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Farooq Khan on Friday took stock of the preparations for launch of the National toll free helpline for elderly persons named Elder line here in J&K.
A statement issued to news agency Kashmir News Bureau said that the other participants of the webinar includes Sheetal Nanda, Secretary Social Welfare Department, Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police, Chief Education Officers (CEOs), Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) and District Social Welfare Officers.
The Advisor remarked that this is a significant scheme rolled out by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment with the weakest section of society as its beneficiaries. He emphasised upon the officers to be sympathetic and responsive in the implementation of this scheme here.
He maintained that these elderly people deserve to be treated well and safeguarded from societal injustice. He stressed that this platform should act as one stop for redressing all the grievances of this vulnerable section of society. The Advisor asked the officers to play their role in creating awareness about this scheme.
The Advisor was informed that the toll free number of 14567 could be accessed all across the states extending this facility to these senior citizens.
The Elder Line for senior citizens in the UT of J&K will provide information, guidance, emotional support and field intervention to the elderly people in distress, the meeting was informed.
It was further said that the department of Social Welfare, NISD and Airtel Telecom Solutions is a tripartite (MoU) for providing support system for running a Helpline for elderly people to address the challenges faced by them in the UT of J&K.
It is a free service that provides information, emotional support to elderly people in distress so as to bring solace to them. Its purpose is to reach out to every senior citizens of the country to provide support and guidance besides providing a platform to facilitate queries related to implementation of the scheme. (KNB)