Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jul 31: The helpline staff who help senior citizens with several issues including injustice faced by children, property dispute, health problems, government facilities etc are themselves facing a lot of problems now. 

It is gathered that the people on duty at the helpline for senior citizens have not got their salary.

The district senior citizens helpline was set up in 2014 under the department of the empowerment of differently-abled and senior citizens of Karnataka. Its telephone number is 0820-2523294. It is being operated by the district union of Mahila Mandals. The helpline handles 100 to 150 complaints per month on an average. Currently, a personal counsellor, a supervisor and a coordinator handle the helpline. 

Out of 650 cases filed with the helpline so far, 622 have been settled. The helpline has received 11,000 calls from senior citizens so far and provided services like free legal advice, consultancy, medical services etc. For orphans and the destitute, shelters have been provided either in the old age homes or with families willing to look after them. 

Because of the lack of grants, the salary of the helpline staff has not been paid for the last nine months. She staff who serve the senior citizens all 24 hours of the day now find it hard to manage their own families. President of the union, Sarala Kanchan, said that the staff here have discharged duties even during the lockdown to help the senior citizens with their problems and to provide information as may be necessary.

Chandra Naik, department of senior citizens and differently-abled welfare department, says that grant for the senior citizens' helpline was released till March. He said this grant went back as the concerned did not submit proper papers. He said that efforts to get the grant back are on.