Cops to provide identity cards to senior citizens

The city police plan to provide special identity cards within a month to senior citizens registered with the national capital’s police stations, commissioner Neeraj Kumar said on Thursday.

The cards would bear the senior citizens’ names, addresses, registration numbers, contact numbers in case of emergency, blood groups and health problems.

“It would be part of measures being taken to enhance their safety and security,” Kumar said.

Samples of the card have already been printed and local police stations have been assigned the task of gathering necessary details from nearly 13,000 registered senior citizens.

Kumar further said he thought of the identity cards after he met a senior citizen while on a Jansampark visit to Nizammuddin.

“The old man had said he felt helpless without any proper identity card. Therefore, we decided to issue special cards to every senior citizen registered with us. The job will be completed in the next one to one-and-a-half months,” he said.

SMS service

The department has been regularly introducing initiatives for safety of senior citizens. Last year, a project of sending safety tips through bulk SMS service was started.

There is also a senior citizen security cell at police headquarters, which coordinates safety and security of senior citizens with the help of local police.

“The cell monitors registered senior citizens by interacting on telephone on regular besis. We further believe that organising field visits to senior citizens give them a better sense of security and confidence,” another police official added.

The cell also provides regular advice to local police with respect to safety concerns of senior citizens residing in their jurisdiction.

“Officers pay visit to some of the senior citizens every day, during which they carry out security inspections and check if antecedents of domestic helps are verified,” the official added.

“It is also ascertained whether the local police are taking adequate interest in implementing the guidelines and special schemes for senior citizens,” the official said.