A new year gift for senior citizens soon

KOCHI: Police will soon launch a programme to ensure the security of senior citizens, who are staying alone in the city.

Each senior citizen will be given a ‘patta’ book and a policeman, visiting their homes once a week, will record his remarks and the details of the visit.

City police decided to expedite the implementation of the senior citizen protection scheme after a 75-year-old woman was robbed at knife-point by two thieves at her residence on November 13, 2011.

During the initial stage, city police will implement the patta book system in 50 homes under the central police station limits. A team, led by Kochi range IG K Padmakumar, will review the implementation of the system in the city in a phased manner.

Central SI A Ananthalal said that they would coordinate the programme with the resident associations in the city to identify senior citizens who are staying alone.

“The system will help senior police officials to check whether the policeman are actually visiting the homes of senior citizens and inquiring about the problems faced by them,” he said.

The scheme will give a detailed idea about how senior citizens live akin to a status report. Beat patrolling teams, at the respective police stations, will be asked to visit the selected homes.

Police will also distribute a pamphlet listing out safety precautions.

There are 21 police stations in the city and the patta book system is likely to be implemented at main police stations. “Police officials will also conduct a security audit at the homes of senior citizens and suggest measures to strengthen the security,” an officer said.

As per the preliminary report, there are around 30,000 senior citizens in the city and many of them live with their families.

SOURCE : TIMES OF INDIA