On the occasion of International Day of Older Persons on October 1, the State government will launch helplines in 12 districts on Wednesday.
Minister of State for Kannada and Culture Umashree told presspersons here on Tuesday that the district in-charge Ministers will launch helplines in their respective districts.
Helpline number 1090 will be launched in Bangalore Rural, Chickballapur, Chikmagalur, Chitradurga, Haveri, Chamarajanagar, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Koppal, Raichur, Yadgir, and Hassan districts. Helpline desks will be established at the offices of the Superintendents of Police in each district. The Minister said helplines were functioning in 14 districts as of now.
The department is considering launching helplines in Mandya, Kodagu, Gadag, and Ramanagaram districts subsequently.
A sum of Rs. 7.15 crore has been earmarked for the maintenance of the helplines.
AwardsThe Minister said a programme has been organised at Ravindra Kalakeshtra on Wednesday and six senior persons would be given awards by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The award winners are S. Shankaranarayana Acharya (Kolar – art); Hanumanthaya Mannappa Poojara, retired teacher (Bijapur – education); M.G. Krishnamurthy, freedom fighter and ayurveda practitioner (Mysore – social welfare); Yamanuresh Biradar (Yadgir – literature), Pramila Nagaraju (Bangalore – sports); and Leela R. Hiremath (Dharwad – law). The awards carry a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh each. There are 28 government-run old age homes and Rs. 1.89 crore has been earmarked for them.
About 25 to 30 people are residing in each home, Ms. Umashree said.