Sandhya Suraksha: A boon to senior citizens

Vasudha Zora | NT

Bengaluru: The state government of Karnataka launched the Sandhya Suraksha Yojana back in 2002 to assist NGOs to operate Old Age Homes and provide basic amenities to senior citizens. It was later expanded to provide financial aid to senior citizens in the form of monthly pensions.

The scheme aids persons like marginal and small farmers, agricultural labourers, weavers, fishermen and labourers from the unorganised sector. Vitthal Rama, a 72-year-old laundryman living in ISRO Layout said, “My son died of cancer a year back and I have illnesses that keep me restricted from working.

I got to know about the scheme through my educated customers and so I enrolled in it and now receive my social security.” He also added, “It was easy to enrol, I had to submit my residence proof, income certificate, age proof (Passport, driver’s licence, ration card etc), Domicile certificate, bank passbook and an Occupational certificate which needs to be signed by the nearest Tahsildar of the respective Tulak.”

The applicant should acquire application forms, attach the required documents and submit them to the nearest gram panchayat office or Block Municipality office near their area. Senior citizens using the KSRTC services will get passes at concessional rates, and the government will also provide funds to NGOs to aid and provide care to older individuals.

Helpline numbers with police departments to hear the frantic stress call of the senior citizens have been arranged under the scheme, and Day Care centres to support them. The NGOs can extend their help by issuing senior individuals with identity cards and charging them Rs 25 to avail the benefits of the scheme.

Jessika Nanda is a resident of Banashankari and a retired school teacher, who availed of the scheme about five months ago, “I heard about the scheme from my friends and every time the government changes, an extended 200 is added to the money in the scheme, making it Rs 1,200 which has been helpful for us as it takes of our ration in days of need.”