Helpline for senior citizens to be fully functional within two months

Official displaying copies of MoU signed for restablishing Helpline for senior citizens in Ladakh UT.
Official displaying copies of MoU signed for restablishing Helpline for senior citizens in Ladakh UT.

Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, July 31: The UT Administration of Ladakh is starting the Senior Citizen Helpline as the Social/Tribal Welfare Department, UT of Ladakh today signed the tripartite MoU with HelpAge India and National Institute of Social Defence (NIDS), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Gol.
The MOSJE, Govt of India, (National Institute of Social Defence (NISD)) and Social/Tribal Welfare Department of the UT Administration Ladakh have decided to start a Helpline for senior citizens in UT of Ladakh with the objective of expeditiously attending to the complaints and grievances of the senior citizens.
The National Helpline for Senior Citizens (NHSC) would operate with an apex body of National Implementing Agency (NIA) consisting of members from MOSJE, NISD, Govt of Telangana and non-official members with expertise in software, project management and training.
The Help Age India’s mandate is to set up, operate and manage the UT Helpline as per the norms and will operate services from 8.00AM to 8.00 PM in shifts all seven days a week and will interact with the senior citizens in a polite, empathetic and compassionate manner to support senior citizens in distress and facilitate the services to them.
The UT Helpline will be the most critical agency for coordinating with the senior citizens, Government agencies, NGOs, service providers, old age homes, Senior Citizen Department. The Helpline will consist of a connect Centre (Call Centre) created as per the standards set by the National Implementing Agency (NIA) where calls from senior citizens will be received.
The Helpline will do the quality check of the calls and work towards continuous improvement. Reports and Dashboards will also be prepared and updated regularly. The Helpline will also consist of Field Response Officers Social Welfare and of the line departments who will work towards resolution of problems indicated by senior citizens by working closely with all the on-ground partners.