A Toll-Free Helpline ‘Elder Line 14567’ (National Helpline for Senior Citizens), established by the Department of Social Welfare, Women & Child Development, Chandigarh Administration in collaboration with Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India, has been inaugurated in Chandigarh by Sh. Dharam Pal, IAS, Adviser to the Administrator, Chandigarh today at Sector-19 B, Chandigarh.
The Elder Line will operate from 08.00 AM to 08.00 PM for 7 days in a week. It has been staffed with seven professionally trained employees who have been trained in various fields by Government of India. The staff consists of Project Manager, IT Leader, Quality Leader & Call Responder-cum-Field Response Officer. Elder Line will provide a common platform to elderly persons residing in Chandigarh for redressal of their grievances and facilitation of their queries related to implementation of various Govt. schemes and programmes available in the city for the welfare of Senior Citizens. It will also extend emotional support, immediate assistance in case of abuse, legal issues related to maintenance as well as providing rescue facilities to the homeless elderly persons of U.T., Chandigarh.
Emphasising on the need to sensitize society Adviser appealed to the Media and the Department of Social Welfare to carry out awareness programs and advocacy drives among general public regarding the services of Elder Line 14567 in order to make a positive difference in the lives of Senior Citizens of U.T. Chandigarh and to provide them unconditional support.
The Adviser also directed the Department to use social media platforms such as Facebook and Youtube for awareness and advocacy of the Elder Line. Further, he appreciated the efforts of Department of Social Welfare for establishing a dedicated helpline for elderly persons at the time of COVID-19 pandemic.
Helpline was launched in the presence of Sh. Vinod P. Kavle, Secretary Social Welfare; Mrs. Navjot Kaur, Director Social Welfare Women & Child Development; Sh. Rajeev Tiwari, Director Public Relations and other Senior Officials of the Department.
