TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: GOACAN has called on the district magistrate and police superintendents to implement the Action Plan for the protection of life and property of senior citizens in Goa as per the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents & Senior Citizens Act 2007 and the Goa Rules 2009.
GOACAN Coordinator, Roland Martins said the action plan involves that each Police Station shall maintain an up-to-date list of Senior Citizens living within its jurisdiction, especially those who are living by themselves; the formation of Volunteer Committees for each Police Station which shall ensure regular contact with the Senior Citizens; Community Policing for the security of Senior Citizens be undertaken in conjunction with citizens living in the neighbourhood, NGO’s; youth volunteers etc.
“The Action plan also envisages that Police Stations maintain a separate register containing all important particulars relating to offences committed against Senior citizens, the Police Station sends a monthly report of such crimes to the respective District SP,” he said.
GOACAN has also written to the District Magistrates of South & North Goa and sought the effective implementation of the Act & Rules.
which requires the monitoring of the work of the Tribunals and Maintenance Officers and the monitoring of the working of old age homes in their respective Districts. “We have requested the District Magistrates to ensure periodic sensitisation of officers of various Departments and local bodies concerned with the welfare of Senior citizens, ensure that adequate number of specified application forms for maintenance are available in offices of BDO’s, Mamlatdars, Police Stations, Panchayats and Municipalities, review the progress of investigation and trial of cases relating to senior citizens in the Districts and promote the establishment of a dedicated Helpline for Senior Citizens at the District Headquarters”, Martins said.
He said that GOACAN has also brought to the notice of the District Magistrates that the term of the District Committee of Senior Citizens which was constituted in 2010 and notified by Order No.13/1/2010-SWD/6917 dated 11/01/2011 issued by N.B. Narvekar Ex-Officio Joint Secretary & Director of Social Welfare of two years has expired and the same needs to be extended or reconstituted.
