People living alone most vulnerable

Vinodini Gupta's life too could have been saved had the neighbours been as alert. Body of Gupta (81) — who the police claimed died four months ago — was found on Saturday from her Saket residence. Nivedita Khandekar reports.

Vinodini Gupta's life too could have been saved had the neighbours been as alert. Body of Gupta (81) — who the police claimed died four months ago — was found on Saturday from her Saket residence. Gupta's 40-something daughter, according to her neighbours' claim, is a recluse.

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The decomposed body of a 44-year-old Maninder Singh Bhander was found in his house at Greater Kailash in 2007. Bhander stayed alone and was suspected of having died of starvation.

Very little or no interaction with neighbours makes for life difficult for people living alone. But there are ways to avoid it.

"Such seniors staying alone should register themselves with the Delhi Police. We help several single seniors to register with police and also coordinate with senior police officials," said Balbir Singh Yadav, secretary general of Confederation of Senior Citizen's Association, Delhi.

The Senior Citizen Security Cell of Delhi Police opened in 2004 with registration of approximately 4,500 citizens and the number today stands at over 8,800 senior persons. Beat constables regularly visit the people registered with the police.

If at all the people are unwilling to register with police for some reasons, the members of various senior citizens associations help out their fraternity.

"Physically active members of the associations visit seniors living alone, ask them about their well being, if needed, bring their medicines or grocery, etc," Yadav added.