Guwahati News Desk: The Senior Citizens National Helpline ”Elderline”-14567 in Jammu and Kashmir was launched on Friday.
The launch of the helpline was done by the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, at the Raj Bhavan.
The Lieutenant Governor informed that the ElderLine will be serving as a vital support system to comfort the distressed elderly through a dedicated Decentralized Call Center, extending emotional care and support, health services, and other aids to needy senior citizens. He added that this toll-free helpline will fill a crucial gap in the institutionalized Eldercare Ecosystem in UT.
It was also informed that the J&K Maintenance and Welfare for Parents and Senior Citizens rules 2021 have been prepared and will be notified in a few days.
Sinha further lauded the efforts of Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) for providing assistance to specially abled of the UT and making it specially-abled inclusive and accessible.
In addition, it was also informed by Sinha that the J&K Social Welfare Department has conducted a survey of those in need of motorized tricycles and all those who are eligible for Old age, Widow, and Divyang pensions. The UT government shall be attaining saturation in the distribution of these benefits within this year. He also said that about 9 lakh people have received funds under different pension schemes and that another, 2 lakh 72 thousand additional people have been added to our pension schemes, and for the first time in the history of UT, pensions have been provided to transgenders.
Meanwhile, the others present on the occasion included of Farooq Khan, Advisor to Lieutenant Governor; Dr. AK Mehta, Chief Secretary; Sheetal Nanda, Secretary Social Welfare Department; Dr. Raghav Langer, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Anshul Garg, Deputy Commissioner Jammu; Vivek Sharma, Director Social Welfare, besides senior officials of Social Welfare Department.