Old age homes will accommodate orphanage children: Telangana government to High Court

Hyderabad: Hearing the plight of the senior citizens in a PIL on old age homes, the Telangana High Court directed the State government to furnish a more detailed report with regard to the steps being taken against the unregistered old age homes, with regard to the shifting of the inmates, who are presently housed in the unregistered homes, and with regard to the steps being taken against those old age homes, which are found to be suffering from poor maintenance and unhygienic conditions.

The State government has submitted a report to the High Court regarding the registered and unregistered old age homes in Hyderabad, Rangareddy and Medchal Districts in the State. The government informed the court that in these three districts 89 registered homes are existing and 41 unregistered homes are functioning. Out of the 41 unregistered old age homes 27 in Hyderabad, 6 in RangaReddy and 8 are functioning in Medchal district.

Notices have been issued to all the 41 unregistered old age homes to get themselves registered within 15 days under the provisions otherwise, appropriate action will be taken to seize or close down the old age home maintained by them.

For providing guidance, support and care to the senior citizens, the Department for Welfare of disabled and senior citizens has launched a Toll-Free Help Line Number 14567 and will come into effect from June 30, 2020.

If a complaint is received in helpline/hotline no.14567 the same should be attended immediately both by the department and the concerned Police station. In case any action needs to be taken by the police with regard to any alleged offence, the police shall take the action immediately. The concerned SHO shall inform the Superintendent of Police of the district with regard to allegations so made with the investigation.

Considering the possibility to accommodate both the old age homes along with orphanage children home, which run under the juvenile justice act, the children were placed under the guidance and care of the elderly people, such arrangements will create a symbiotic relationship between elderly people, who will get a chance to guide the children and the children who desperately require the guidelines from the adult.

On a trial basis, after the Covid-19 subsides, one old age home will accommodate 10 orphanage children in Hyderabad. Thereafter the possibility to have both at one place will be taken forward.

Seeking the cooperation of the corporate sectors, MNCs and public & private sectors to come forward and extend their cooperation in building infrastructure, furniture, manpower, medical and therapeutic care, recreation etc., to the needy old age homes under Corporate Social Responsibility.

The Concerned department has circulated the copy of the High Court orders to the NGOs running the old age homes and to the companies in the private sectors. Exploring the possibility of seeking the cooperation of corporate sectors under Corporate Social Responsibility so that the companies can take up and manage or at least provide the best infrastructure that can be provided to the elderly inmates, keeping in mind their physical and mental needs, the report stated.