Annual Report - National Human Rights Commission

Rights of the Vulnerable
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of Rural Development, National Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad etc. (The study has
been completed during 2005-06 and is under consideration of the Commission)
(b) Security of Senior Citizens
10.19 A report appeared in THE HINDU dated 22-6-2004 regarding setting up of Special Cell
to monitor security of senior citizens in Delhi. The Cell has been set up in the wake of the
gruesome murder of Lieutenant General (Retd.) Harnam Singh Seth and his wife at their Vasant
Enclave residence. A meeting was held at the instance of Lt. Governor of Delhi, Shri B. L. Joshi
in which the decision to set up Special Cell was taken.
10.20 The Special Cell would function directly under the supervision of Shri Sudhir Yadav,
Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch). However, the modalities of its functioning
were yet to be worked out.
10.21 The Delhi Police have also decided to take the following steps to ensure safety and
security of senior citizens in Delhi :-
● To give wide publicity to the dedicated helpline numbers for senior citizens (1091 and 1291);
● To contact on the above numbers in case the names of senior citizens do not figure in the
list of senior citizens prepared by the Delhi Police;
● To verify the character and antecedents of servants before their employment;
● To collect at least two references from their domestic helps to facilitate proper verification;
● To reduce the dependence on unknown persons, the Delhi Police have launched “Adoption
of Senior Citizens by School Students” programme. Under the scheme, students from various
schools visit senior citizens living away from their children to share their problems and to
extend to them emotional support;
● Delhi Police have also issued some guidelines in newspapers instructing the senior citizens
to install grills on the door, cover transparent windows with curtains, keep lights on
throughout the night, install alarm bells linking with neighbours, etc.
10.22 The Commission felt that the issue of senior citizens needs to be taken up in a wider
perspective for the entire country by the Commission. It was decided that a Core Group be
constituted to go into the issues relating to security, health and housing requirements, etc. of the
senior citizens. The Core Group is being set up.
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