| No takers for elderly, abandoned citizens | | Demand of Old Age Home in Rajouri, Poonch remained unfulfilled | | ANKIT KESSAR
EARLY TIMES REPORT
SUNDERBANI, Jan 29: Despite fact that increasing cases of abandonment of elderly people by their children have become grave issue in the society but the local administrations also seem to be non serious to take some steps to mitigate their problems by establishing at least Old Age Home, in the district, which has remained unfulfilled demand.
Sources told Early Times that there was continuous demand of establishment of Old Age Home in the Rajouri district from the senior citizens of the district. A local organization, registered under title “Senior Citizen Council Sunderbani”, which has been working for the welfare of the elderly people for the last 10 years, has been raising its demand of construction of Old Age Home with the local administration but their demand remained unheard every time.
“The districts of Rajouri and Poonch have population of over 10 lakhs and there are many cases where elderly people have been abandoned by their children while there are many such people, who have no children to take care and of them and due to poverty, they are compelled to live lonely live. Although government has its obligation to take care of them by giving them shelter in Old Age Home but apathetic attitude of the local administration, this most serious issue was never redressed,” said OP Saraf, President of Senior Citizen Council Sunderbani.
Although a delegation led by KK Khaki, General Secretary of Senior Citizen Council Sunderbani met with Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, during ‘Outreach Programme’ in the Sudnerbani and took up the issue of Old Age Home.
“We urged the Minister that there is dire need of Old Age Home in the district and suggested that it should be established at Sunderbani, which has pleasant climatic conditions suitable for elderly people,” said KK Khaki, Sat Pal Suri, Chaman Lal Puri. They said further adding that the issue was also discussed previous governments but their genuine demand was never given attention.
During their interaction with Minister, they also demanded benefit of ‘Ayush Bharat Abhiyan’ for senior citizen over age of 65. There are many elderly people, who don’t have no sustainable financial condition and this scheme can be blessing for such people.
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