SAMBALPUR:In a bid to instil a sense of security among elderly persons, Senior Citizen Cells were launched in all the 21 police stations in the district on Sunday.
A meeting of senior citizens was organised in the city which was attended by Sambalpur MLA Raseswari Panigrahi, Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Northern Division) DV Swamy, Inspector General of Police (Northern Range) Sushant Kumar Nath and Sambalpur SP Sanjeev Arora on the day.About 300 elderly persons from different parts of the district who have registered their names in the Senior Citizen Security Cell were issued identity cards by the police. The identity cards will bear the name, address, contact number and blood group of the senior citizens.
This apart, the district police also issued stickers for two-wheelers and other vehicles used by senior citizens. The aim of this move is to provide assistance to senior citizens if they face any difficulty while commuting.
SP Arora said two police officers from the existing staff of each police station have been entrusted with the responsibility to serve as nodal officer and assistant nodal officer of the Senior Citizen Security Cell. The nodal officer and assistant nodal officer will visit the house of senior citizens every month to make them feel safe and secure. The police officers will also reach out to the elderly persons when required.
In the first phase, priority has been given to senior citizens who are staying alone as they are more vulnerable. Subsequently, the police will cover more number of senior citizens, Arora said.Welcoming the move of the district police, an elderly person Bijay Pradhan said the senior citizens will be greatly benefited if the service is provided in a proper manner.