The senior citizen helpline has registered 142 calls in last four months in Chandigarh.
The complaints registered by the callers were related to domestic violence, pension, psychological/behavioural issues and property, among other issues.
The data was revealed during the three days training programme on the theme Capacity Building Training on Age Care and Geriatric Counselling organised by the UT Social Welfare Department at Senior citizen Home, Sector 43 here.
A senior official of the UT Director Social Welfare Department said, “A total of 16 calls regarding domestic violence, 9 calls on pension related issues, 3 about psychological / behavioural issues, 15 on dispute with neighbours, 27 about property disputes, 6 calls on financial disputes, 41 enquiry calls and 25 others calls were received at senior citizen helpline from October 2012 to January 2014.”
He said, “After the workshop, the UT Administration has concluded that there is need for mapping of senior citizens and need for setting up of a day care facility in Chandigarh.”
“Also, there is a need to involve private healthcare providers and other corporate sectors to sponsor senior citizen welfare programmes, to reach out to all senior citizens at the grass roots level and feasibility of setting up of a senior citizen employment exchange,” he added. The official said that the three-day training programme was organised by the Senior Citizen Helpline, working in convergence with women and child helpline 181 under the aegis of Department of Social Welfare on the theme of Capacity Building Training on Age Care and Geriatric Counselling.
The issues discussed included the status of the elderly in India and Chandigarh, the efforts made by the Government of India and UT Administration to address the issues of senior citizens. The experts also spoke about senior citizen abuse and how it should be prevented and discussed about the Integrated Programme of Older Persons (IPOP).
A session was also conducted by UT Director Social Welfare Rajesh Jogpal about Reverse Mortgage scheme and its finer nuances and the implications for the senior citizens residing in Chandigarh. The participants were also apprised about “The Maintenance and Welfare of the Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007.