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Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep. 28 (EM): Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Tuesday launched the senior citizens national helpline "Elderline-14567 Nagaland” at the Chief Minister’s Residential Office in Kohima.
The “Elderline-14567” is a toll free helpline for the elderly persons initiated by the Ministry of Social Justice to address the problems of elders in the context of the ongoing Covid pandemic and the facility was initially made available in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana.
Rio expressed happiness over the launch of the senior citizen helpline and congratulated the Good Samaritan Women Society for successfully implementing the programme.
"I hope this will benefit the senior citizens to enable them to get the required information and assistance both from the state and Centre," the chief minister said, while urging to help and care for the elderly in the state.
During the launch programme, Michael Zaren, Director of Social Welfare, informed that Nagaland has over two lakh senior citizens, out of which 51,750 under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) are in 60-79 age category and 5,650 above 80 years of age.
He also informed that 5,970 beneficiaries under state non-plan receive pension.
Zaren went on to say that the department has been pursuing with the Ministry of Rural Development for allocation of additional beneficiaries to accommodate uncovered eligible persons, but has not been successful so far.
He apprised that as per the directive from the Ministry, the department is making ‘all necessary arrangement for payment of pensions through direct benefit transfer (DBT) using public financial management system (PFMS) platform from this financial year 2021-22’.
Informing that there are nine existing old age homes in the state, the director said the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is planning to set up senior citizen homes in all the districts under National Action Plan for senior citizens while few applications had been received.
The officer asserted that the launch of Elderline would give opportunities to senior citizens to share their grievances, and accordingly, their grievances would be addressed.
Sarah R Ritse, Commissioner and Secretary to the government of Nagaland, informed that they had suggested Good Samaritan Women Society when the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment had directed their department to propose an NGO as implementing agency for Elderline.
She mentioned that they had identified the society for the same after thorough examination, believing that this organisation would be able to deliver the goods.
Ritse also expressed hope that the helpline would reach out to the abandoned elderly persons or those vulnerable elderly people who are being abused, by providing emotional support and necessary information on various schemes and assistance.
"I wish you all the best and I assure that the department will extend all possible help and work closely for the smooth operation of the helpline,” she said.
"With this helpline in place, I hope the celebration of Senior Citizen's Day on 1st October will be more meaningful, where one can look forward for more opportunities, dreams and new experiences," added the official.
Neithonuo Liegise, Programme Manager of Elderline, stated that their vision is to facilitate happy and healthy ageing by serving the senior citizens of India compassionately.
She also shared about their mission to make a positive difference to the lives of senior citizens by creating a reliable national helpline which acts as a platform for redressing the grievances of the senior citizens of India, by providing necessary information and intervention through collective and highly committed partners including government agencies, non-profits and volunteers.