In an initiative by Deoghar SP Saurabh, a personalised security mechanism has been developed the police for senior citizens registered under the Samman Yojana scheme. It is proving to be a boon for elderly couples and individuals living alone.
Though many senior citizens are financially secure, loneliness remains their biggest challenge. This often makes them vulnerable to anti-social elements targeting their property. The Samman Yojana is tailored to reduce this risk.
The police have woven a ring of trust around senior citizens—a circle where help is merely a phone call away. Within two months, 26 elderly individuals aged over 70 have already joined the programme. The objective of the scheme is not merely to prevent crime, but to reassure elderly people that the police stand by them. All they need to do is register themselves under the programme.
The process is extremely simple to ensure maximum participation. Senior citizens aged 70 and above who live alone can register via a dedicated phone number provided by the police. Following registration, police personnel visit their homes, compile a comprehensive profile, and issue a registration slip. The information they provide is kept strictly confidential.
Once enrolled, a Sub-Inspector-rank officer from the concerned police station is attached to each elderly individual or couple. The officer conducts a security audit of the residence and meets them every fortnight to inquire about their well-being.
Police personally verify everything—from the strength of the entrance doors to the credentials of domestic help and tenants—to ensure that the elderly do not face any threat.
Saurabh said that in the twilight years of life, many elderly people find themselves alone as their children live far away due to employment and professional commitments, making their safety a concern.
“The dedicated officers of the Samman Cell periodically patrol the vicinity of their homes, check on their well-being and establish direct contact with them as and when required,” the SP said, adding that they have been provided dedicated phone numbers to seek help at any time.
The initiative’s most distinctive feature is that police also strive to resolve the day-to-day problems faced by the elderly. The SP has appealed to residents of Deoghar to inform and assist any eligible senior citizens in their neighbourhood in registering under the programme. Many say the scheme reinforces not just a sense of security, but also trust and dignity.
Santosh Kumar, President of the Deoghar Pensioners’ Society, expressed, “The ‘Samman Yojana’ has provided the elderly people in society with peace of mind, and they no longer feel lonely,” he said.