Helpline for senior citizens staying in eastern suburbs

For those who subscribe to it, a software will be installed in a button on their mobile phone or landline. When the button is pushed, it will immediately connect to the police, hospital and phones of registered family members.

A emergency helpline for senior citizens in the eastern suburbs will be launched on Saturday.

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For those who subscribe to it, a software will be installed in a button on their mobile phone or landline. When the button is pushed, it will immediately connect to the police, hospital and phones of registered family members.

The Rane Heart Centre will launch a helpline, which will be active from Chunabhatti to Mulund.

The Mumbai Suburban Collector, Nimal Deshmukh, will also be part of the launch.

“Recently, there have been a lot of attacks on senior citizens in the city. Senior citizens staying alone tend to be insecure and vulnerable. This initiative is to help protect them better,” said Sandeep Rane, director of the heart centre.

The helpline will work for 24 hours on all days. Consumers will have to pay Rs 250 for a yearly subscription. The initiative was launched in Pune in 2008.

Pune-based company Softspin Services Pvt Ltd. has developed the helpline. Film producer Bala Giri is promoting the helpline by sponsoring the first 100 senior citizens subscribing to the helpline.