Bandipora : The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora, Dr. Owais Ahmad on Saturday inaugurated Senior Citizens Home in Bandipora for senior citizens of the district.
The facility has been set up by the Department of Social Welfare under AtalVayoAbhyudayYojna (AVAY) scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The Home is aimed to provide an array of facilities to senior citizens like shelter, food, clothing, recreational facilities, library facilities, stress management, counseling, social support, legal assistance, medical assistance and other basic life facilities, DC said on the occasion.
The home is facilitated with separate medical staff consisting of a doctor and a nurse, he further added.
District Social Welfare Officer Bandipora, on the occasion said that, all the facilities would be made available as per the guidelines of the scheme free of cost to the senior citizens and expressed gratitude to the Director, Social Welfare, Kashmir and District Administration Bandipora for the establishment of much needed institutional facilities in the district.
He said that the Senior Citizens Home has a functional library that includes books on the discourses of religion, philosophy among others for the senior citizens.
The facility also has a fully furnished hall fitted with a fan and heating system. There are computers, LCD TVs, Carom, Chess and other tools of recreational recourse for the elderly at the home.
The government has kept several staff members available at this center along with all required facilities.
“Some retainer and lawyers are also available to assist senior citizens. The home can help senior citizens to get enlisted for various Government schemes like old-age pension, drafting of petitions against abuse, and file applications etc.
Above all, senior citizens can get regular health check-ups at home as specialist doctors and yoga therapist are readily available” DSWO added while highlighting the facilities available at the home.
Pertinent to mention here, the management of the home has been outsourced to a renowned organization of the district – J&K Students Welfare Mission.
Chairman MC Bandipora, Basharat Hussain; DPO, Poshan Abhiyan Bandipora, Mohammad Ashraf Hakak; District Social Welfare Officer, Ubaid ul Khazir; Functional Manager, DIC, Bandipora, Mehrajud din and other senior citizens of the district and officials were present were present on the occasion.
