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Kerala: Six villages to be declared old-age friendly

All service, including medical and police help, will be at their beck and call.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As a first step towards making the state ‘old age’-friendly, two villages in Thiruvananthapuram and four in Palakkad will soon be declared as ‘Vayo Souhruda’ grama panchayats. These villages will have all the necessary facilities to ensure that no person above the age of 60 is left unsheltered and unfed. All service, including medical and police help, will be at their beck and call.

The ‘Vayo Souhruda’ project is being implemented with the assistance of Centre for Gerontological Studies. The panchayats that will be made 'old age'-friendly are: Manikkal, Poovachal and Vembayam panchayats in Thiruvanantha-puram and Karimba, Peruvembu, Mundoor, and Puthussery panchayats in Palakkad. The project is implemented under the LDF Government's 'Sayamprabha' Scheme.

"Under Sayamprabha, the idea is to provide senior citizens all the services they require in the most generous manner," social justice minister K.K. Shylaja said. “The project will be implemented with the help of several departments and would guarantee safety, shelter, health, nutrition and even livelihood for senior citizens,” the minister added. There will be well-endowed old age homes in each of these panchayats, equipped with a clinic to boot. As for senior citizens living in their own homes, they will be provided dedicated and free services in all areas from health to plumbing. Regular health check-ups will be conducted for senior citizens in shelter homes as well those living with their children in private homes.

A ‘Geriatric Register’ will also be prepared in each of these panchayats. The register, which will be a comprehensive one with relevant details like medical history of senior citizens and dependant addresses, will be kept in the police station and government offices in the panchayat. The police stations will also set up a helpline number for senior citizens, and would also do a thorough check of maids and other persons working for senior citizens. The creation of a Geriatric Register was a directive issued by the DGP in a circular issued in 2010 after rules were framed for the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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