Amritsar admin prioritises healthcare of elderly, kids in flood-hit areas

The district administration has started making special efforts in the flood-affected areas of Ajnala and Ramdass along the Ravi river to take care of the health of

elderly people and children. The administration has appointed Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Amandeep Kaur as the nodal officer for this work.

Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney held a meeting with Child Development Project Officer and Social Security Department officials at the Ajnala base camp here on Sunday in this regard. She said that due to floods, many villages and towns have been affected, and Anganwadi centres have been closed.

As a result, thousands of small children were not receiving their nutritious meals. Now, with the help of the department, around 11,000 children who were earlier coming to Anganwadi centres, will receive one month's supply of food delivered directly to their homes.

Similarly, the district administration is contacting about 18,000 elderly people in the area who are pension holders. Through phone calls and village sarpanches, their health conditions and requirements are being checked, she said. Many elderly people are demanding medicines, spectacles and walking sticks. These items are being provided with the help of staff members, teachers and NCC volunteers.

The Deputy Commissioner said that this step was necessary because many elderly people are living alone. Volunteers will make sure they remain in touch with them and supply their needs, she added. Additional Deputy Commissioner Rohit Gupta, Amandeep Kaur, Khushdeep Singh and other officials were also present at the meeting.