KOCHI: The bid of Kochi to become the first aged-friendly city in the country in the WHO listing is being powered by a host of initiatives, the latest one being setting up a helpline called ‘elderline’. The initiative is being undertaken by the district panchayat and Kochi Corporation in association with MAGICS (managing and generating income for community services), an NGO. South Delhi and Kolkata had in the past failed in their bid to secure a place in the WHO listing of aged-friendly cities from the country. October has been declared elderly-friendly month in the district as part of the bid.
Each ward will have a six-member Elderline volunteer team comprising a Kudumbashree worker, an Asha worker, an Anganwadi worker, a senior citizen, a youth and the ward member. “The distress calls to the central number will go to the six persons and they will co-ordinate to find a solution,” said Balu James, the project director. “Even women in distress can use this number. Issues like bringing medicine to the needy elderly also will be done by them.” Geriatric tourism which aims at making tourist places disabled-friendly with ramps and other facilities will be unveiled by tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran on October 26 while a Kochi Metro train ride for elders from Nettur will be arranged on October 27.
On October 29, a veterans’ sports meet will be held in association with Kerala Athletic Association at SH College ground. “Those who finish first in the state meet will be directly taken to World Veterans Athletic Meet next year and their tickets will be sponsored,” Mr James said. Mr James said that a Walkers’ Consortium is on the anvil with five kiosks in the city to provide amenities for the elderly walkers. VPS Lakeshore Hospital is part-funding the projects as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives.
