The Balasore Development Forum (BDF), launched a helpline number for the senior citizens. The launching ceremony was attended by local MP RK Jena.
On the occasion, besides dedicating phone number 9776661702, it was informed by the BDF that the construction for a home for senior citizens was underway and soon it would be opened for them.
“Although we have a plan of constructing a 100 bedded old age home in Baleswar, but initially the plan is to accommodate 25 people with 60 decimal of land which is donated by one Dr laxmi Rana in Isani village. The process for acquiring another 1.5 acres of land adjacent to it is in progress. For initial 25 bedded old age home, about 80 per cent of the construction work is already completed and hopefully, it would be ready by another 3-4 months,” said the president and secretary of the BDA Bikram Panda and Sairul Haque.
The helpline number would be operative from 6 am till 10 pm and all the complaints, grievances and problems of the senior citizens would be noted down and efforts will be made to sort out them, they said, adding that for construction of old age home while the members shared a major contribution , rest was collected through donations.
The other guests of the launching event were Padmashri Tualsi Munda, social activist Madhusudan Tabolkar and Prof Radhamohan. The speakers mentioned about various challenges and difficulties the senior citizens were facing in old age in absence of their children and with the impact of westernization.
It may be noted that the BDF has been working for various causes of the district. They had fought for the second Kendriya Vidyalaya in Baleswar.