Daycare centre for senior citizens planned in Udupi

MLA Raghupathy Bhat said efforts are on to open a day care centre for senior citizens in Udupi.

“A daycare centre has been identified near Board High School,” he said. Funds will be allocated under MLA Local Area Development for developing infrastructural facilities at the centre.

He was speaking at World Senior Citizens’ Day programme organised by the district administration, Zilla Panchayat and District Legal Services Authority at MGM College.

Elaborating on the advantages of daycare centres, the MLA said that it will help the working children to send their parents to the daycare centre. The senior citizens will be engaged in activities in such centres which in turn will help them to remain active. A help desk and a special counter will be opened for the senior citizens, he said.

Bhat said it is the responsibility of the youths to take care of senior citizens and ensure that they are not insecure in life. All the welfare programmes catering to the needs of old aged people should be effectively implemented. There is a need to conduct awareness programmes to enlighten senior citizens about their rights, he added.

He said those who do not take care of the senior citizens should not be respected in the society. Homes for the elderly people is not an Indian culture, he added.

Women and Child Development Department Deputy Director Gracy Gonsalves said 57,402 identity cards have been issued to senior citizens in the district. Senior citizens can apply online for the identity cards from October 1, he said.

A free health check-up camp was organised for the senior citizens.

Centenarian Guruva Koraga, a drum beater hailing from the tribal Koraga community, was felicitated on the occasion.