According to Police Commissioner Gautam Mohan Chakrabarti: “This is a part of our community policing initiative. The Kolkata police and Dignity Foundation will jointly provide services to the senior citizens. We will admit them to hospitals when they fall ill.”
The police said that initially the services would be available in the Lake police station area only. But later, these will be extended to all the areas of Kolkata.
According to the police, a database of elderly citizens will be prepared containing their personal details, history of illness and contact numbers of their close relatives. They will also be provided with a special 24-hour helpline number of their respective police stations. The group will also teach basic safety measures to be taken by senior citizens when they are alone at home.
The police and members of the NGO will regularly visit the elderly people living alone in the city. The police said that such initiative would curb crime against elderly persons in the city.