Day care centre reopened for senior citizens at Khalini

Shimla, February 20

A Day Care Centre under the National Health Mission (NHM) in Khalini ward, that was shut for the past one-and-a-half year, was reopened by the Shimla Municipal corporation (SMC) for the convenience of the senior citizens living here.

The centre was opened by Mayor SMC Surinder Chauhan in the presence of around 150 senior citizens. Recently, a delegation of senior citizens from Khalini ward met SMC Mayor Surinder Chauhan and urged him to reopen this centre.

While talking to The Tribune, Surinder Chauhan said the day care centre was closed after NHM stopped its grant. He said after meeting the senior citizens, he talked to the officials of NHM and decided to reopen the centre.

He said there were many senior citizens in the town who were dealing with loneliness here because their children were working in other cities and they had no choice but to live here alone. Chauhan said in this day care centre, carom boards, chess and playing cards will also be provided to senior citizens for their entertainment.

He said similar day care centres will be opened across the town as per the availability of space.

Chauhan said the Corporation was also considering to sign a Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) with Helpage India to provide health-related facilities to the senior citizens. “The corporation is also planning to build advanced toilets in various wards of the state for senior citizens as well as specially-abled persons” he said.

The Mayor said senior citizens who face difficulties in using normal toilets had demanded the corporation to build advanced toilet after which the corporation assured them that such toilets will be made available across the town.