Member Secretary, N Longshithung Ezung and Programme Manager, Senior Citizens Helpline, Neithonuo Liegise during the signing on MoU at the NSLSA Member Secretary Office on July 8. (Photo Courtesy: NSLSA)
NSLSA and Good Samaritan Women Society signs MOU
Kohima, July 8 (MExN): With the objective to expeditiously attend to complaints and grievances of the senior citizens, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) and Good Samaritan Women Society (GSWS) to start a Senior Citizens Helpline number.
The MoU was signed by Member Secretary, N Longshithung Ezung and Programme Manager, Senior Citizens Helpline, Neithonuo Liegise at the NSLSA Member Secretary Office on Thursday.
Earlier, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), Government of India, the National Institute of Social Defense (NISD) and the Social Welfare Department of the State Government has decided to start a National Helpline with the Good Samaritan Women Society, Nagaland as the Service Provider.
A press release issued by NSLSA, Public Relations Assistant, Ketholeno Neihu stated that the main objective of the helpline is to attend to the complaints and grievances of senior citizens. As per the MoU, the state helpline will receive calls and district/sub-districts administration will act upon the grievances.
The National Helpline for Senior Citizens (NHSC) — Elder Line (Toll Free No. 14567) is mandated to facilitate four different services including:-
• Information: The helpline would provide information related to elder care service providers, pension, Government Schemes, benefits etc., based on caller's requirements;
• Guidance: The helpline would guide senior citizens on legal and pension related issues etc;
• Emotional Support: The helpline team would offer counseling support and if required connect with partners specialized in it;
• Direct Field Intervention.
While ‘rescues and reunion of homeless elderly’ through the helpline team will facilitate rescue of homeless senior citizens and arrange for accommodation in old age homes and facilitate the process towards reuniting the elder persons with the family and the helpline team will assist senior citizens in getting their abuse complaint resolved through ‘maintenance tribunal’ or with the help of other stakeholders.
As for the responsibilities of the Legal Service Authority, it mentioned that rescue and reunion of homeless elderly, support for abused elderly, legal guidance are to be rendered.
In case of homeless elderly, ‘elder line’ representative will call the Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) of the locality. On receipt of the call, the PLVs to reach the spot where elderly person is found and support in admitting the elderly to a nearby old age home/hospital/or take the elderly person to residential place.
Further, the PLVs will support and guide the elderly persons for necessary legal Procedures to be undertaken under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizen's Act or any other Act, as per requirement. The PLVs will also facilitate conciliation or mediation process to ensure safety and security of elderly persons.
In case of abused elderly, ‘elder line’ representative will call PLVs of the locality and inform about visiting the abused elderly. Multiple visits may be undertaken to ascertain the details. The PLVs will also facilitate conciliation or mediation process to ensure safety and security of elderly persons.
All the above mentioned roles and responsibilities need to be conveyed to all the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) and PLVs, the MoU stated.
