INDIA: Goa Will Soon Have Helpline for Seniors

PANJIM, Goa (Herald), JULY 27, 2006: A proposal for a helpline for senior citizens submitted by HelpAge India to Goa Police in March this year has been approved in principle, said John Thattil, Regional Director (Western Region) on Thursday. He was speaking at a ceremony organized to hand over a cheque to HelpAge under Vistar’s cause-related marketing programme. Thattil said HelpAge expects the launch of the helpline at the Police Headquarters, here, by October 1 on the occasion of World Elders Day. The helpline will be manned by two counsellors, who will take calls from elderly persons round the clock, he informed, adding, “our main aim will be to provide necessary counselling and help to the elders.” “We have one such helpline in Chennai city, which operates from the office of the City Police Commissioner. It is running successfully,” said Thattil. In Goa, the telephone lines at the helpline will be linked to a computer system with a special software to identify the number and the location of the caller. Copyright oHeraldo Publications