Cops to conduct census of sr citizens after RR’s diktat

A day after home minister RR Patil exhorted every policeman to personally look after the security of senior citizens in the city, following the recent spate of murders, the police on Tuesday dusted off one of its old schemes.

A day after home minister RR Patil exhorted every policeman to personally look after the security of senior citizens in the city, following the recent spate of murders, the police on Tuesday dusted off one of its old schemes.

HT Image

Police commissioner Satyapal Singh told senior inspectors at all 93 police stations in the city to conduct a fresh census of senior citizens living alone in housing societies.

“The responsibility for the senior citizens in an area will be divided among the local constables, who will each be accountable for the safety of those in their care,” a police official said, requesting anonymity.

The scheme could work, if the police see it through. Since 2005, every time there is a public outcry against the police over crimes against the elderly, similar initiatives have been introduced, only to fade away.

Take the case of Elderline (1090), the police helpline for senior citizens, which was launched in 2006 and was actively promoted for a while. Local policemen would regularly visit the homes of those registered with them through Elderline.

By 2011, 39,000 senior citizens had enrolled with them, but the scheme started stagnating more than a year ago, after a change in the top guard.