By Japjeet Duggal, IANS,
Chandigarh : When in trouble, dial 100. That’s how it has been for Chandigarh’s elderly and that’s clearly how they want it to be with police saying their special helpline for senior citizens has few takers as most prefer to call the police control room (PCR).
When it comes to voicing their grievances, senior citizens in the city seem to prefer dialling 100, the PCR number, to 1090 — the special helpline number started three years ago.
Police officials here say that even though there are elderly people who are facing problems, especially from their children and families, they do not want to seek help from the helpline but instead want the PCR to intervene.
Faced with a situation where the helpline number is not being frequently used, police have started using the number for its women and childcare helpline (1091).
“The elderly do not call on the helpline 1090. They prefer dialling the regular 100,” claimed a Chandigarh police official, requesting anonymity.
“Last year, the helpline received just 26 calls,” the official added.
Subhash Chander, a retired Punjab government employee and resident of Sector 22, told IANS: “The senior citizens’ helpline number is not very popular. In case of need, senior citizens prefer to call the police on 100.”
Whether 100 or a special helpline, however, most elderly citizens are wary of approaching police with their problems for fear of taint perhaps.
The police department and the senior citizens association said senior citizens sometimes do not reveal their problems.
Police sources said that none of the callers on the helpline alleged abuse.
“They prefer to keep things under wraps most of the time to save their children who could be actually torturing them,” the police official said.
“For regular checks, beat constables have been given the responsibility to visit each and every house where a senior citizen registered with the Chandigarh police resides,” Deputy Superintendent of Police Roshan Lal told IANS.
Despite the police claims that beat constables have been asked to visit households and check if the elderly are facing any sort of abuse, the scheme has not been implemented properly.
Said Keshav Chandra, a member of the senior citizens’ association set up in 1996 for the welfare of the elderly: “We have 1,500 members, of whom 200 are from Mohali and Panchkula. Despite all efforts, not many people come forward to join us because they
do not want everyone to know that they are a part of our association.”
“We have also adopted 30 old and destitute women in slum colonies for their welfare. We are constantly trying our best to provide our peers some comfort,” he added.
However, a senior citizen who has been a victim of abuse by his children said on condition of anonymity: “The policemen only complete formalities by getting our signatures rather than listening to our grievances.”
“They just come, get their papers signed and leave. They do not even bother to listen to us,” he added.
Clearly, police need to do more than just set up special helplines to address the problems of the elderly.
(Japjeet Duggal can be contacted at [email protected])