Pune police launch senior citizen helpline number 1090

Pune : The city which is known as the pensioners paradise owing to large number of retired persons living here, have got helping hand from Pune city police.

On Tuesday, Commissioner of Police Rashmi Shukla launched a dedicated helpline number for senior citizens in Pune. The helpline number (1090) can be accessed round the clock.

Police officials said that there are over 5 lakh senior citizens living in Pune and Pimpri, Chinchwad. However only 10,000 are registered with their local police station.

Shukla said that previous helpline launched functional for the  last 10 years operated only between 10 am to 4 pm. The helpline used to receive about 1500 calls every year. “Now senior citizen helpline number 1090 can be dialed anytime for help. We are committed for the safety and security of elderly persons”, Shukla said.

Late last year Pune police appointed a nodal officer and two constables at each of the 39 police stations, who job is interact with senior citizens periodically.

A total of 3,981 cases were filed by senior citizens in 2014 in Maharashtra. Out of the 267 cases filed by senior citizens in the city in 2014, most cases were of robbery (104) and cheating (42). Similarly seven out of 167 senior citizens murdered in the State in 2014 were from Pune city. 11 seniors were murdered and 34 received serious injuries in Pune rural in 2014.

Police analysis of senior citizens’ woes

–        No space for walking either on footpath or at other places

–        Difficulty in getting medicines, medical help for those who live alone

–        PMPML buses do not halt for long duration, while autorickshaw drivers often refuse to ply

–        Women face chain snatching incidents

–        Depression due to loneliness

–        Due to low eyesight people cheat them

–        Most complaints about gas agency, cheating, pension, BSNL etc