Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep. 28 (EMN): A total of 3309 calls were received from senior citizens and 102 service requests resolved in the last one year by the senior citizens’ helpline -- Elderline Nagaland.
This was informed by the programme manager, Elderline, Neithonuo Liegise during the 1st anniversary celebration of Elderline Nagaland at Angami Women Organisation (AWO) building in Kohima on Wednesday.
Further, she informed that more than 100 senior citizen cards were registered with the help of first response officers (FROs) under Senior Citizens Association Nagaland (SCAN) and a total of six destitute elderly persons were rescued since the launch of the helpline.
Liegise said that through the initiative of the Elderline and with the support of the implementing agency and stakeholders, it had approached the SBI main branch, Kohima to open a separate counter for senior citizens and establish senior citizen-friendly facilities.
She added that SBI branches in all the districts will also open separate counters for senior citizens and that the Nagaland State Transport (NST) had agreed and approved the government’s order to reserve four seats for senior citizens (travelling with senior citizen card) and differently-able persons for free in the state.
The programme manager went on to stress on the need for setting up old age homes in all districts to rescue homeless senior citizens, stating that the Good Samaritan Women Society had voluntarily established an old age home in Longleng district last month.
She informed that the Elderline-14567 office is operational with 18 staff, with the programme manager as head, along with field response leader, connect centre leader, quality leader, IT leader, six FROs in-charge of different district and five call officers, accountant and security guard.
She pointed out that the vision of Elderline is to facilitate happy and healthy ageing by serving senior citizens with honour and compassion, while its mission is to make a positive impact on the life of the elderly by creating a reliable national helpline which will act as a platform for redressing their grievances by providing necessary information and intervention.
The official highlighted the services provided by Elderline such as information, guidance, emotional support, direct field intervention by FROs operational from 8 am-8 pm and field officers based in different districts to create awareness about Elderline-14567 services to the community and stakeholders.
Further, she implored upon the government to set up a separate geriatric ward in hospitals to ease the senior citizens seeking medical services.
Advisor for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Dr. Neikiesalie Kire, who was the special guest of the occasion, lauded the Elderline for its service.
He pointed out that senior citizens should be given leisure and recreation time during the day, to interact with friends or engage them is some art and crafts at old age homes rather than keeping them confined at home.
While assuring to take up the proposal of setting up geriatric wards in hospitals with the government, he also emphasised on the need for having a separate Out Patient Department (OPD) counter for senior citizens to allow them avail health services conveniently.
Pointing out that old age homes are becoming a necessity, he also mooted expansion of the Elderline to the entire state.
Meanwhile, joint secretary of the Social Welfare department, Mhathung Tsanglao, in his address, congratulated the Elderline team and the implementing agency -- Good Samaritan Women Society -- for their efforts at ground zero and urged the team to increase outreach programmes about the helpline.
A short speech was also delivered by representative of Senior Citizens’ Association Nagaland (SCAN), Dr. Khanlo Magh.