Launched on 10th April 2002, as a joint
project of Bangalore city Police and Nightingales Medical Trust, the
Elders Help line gets about 25 calls everyday from Elders in distress
with different problems. The problems include family problem, legal
disputes, harassment, rehabilitation and medical help. Many of the
problems have been successfully resolved of which a few are given
below.
REPORT FOR THE
MONTH OF OCT/ NOV 2003
Total contacts
605
Total
complaints
162
Total
Follow-Ups
443
Total complainants 589
Total resolved
cases
56
Total ongoing
cases
106
CATEGORIES
-
NO.OF COMPLAINTS
SHELTER
ASSISTANCE
35
PRIVATE
INCONVENIENCE
55
PUBLIC
INCONVENIENCE
7
LEGAL
ASSISTANCE
12
INTER FAMILIAL
DISPUTES
19
POLICE
INTERVENTION
24
MEDICAL
ASSISTANCE
4
DOMICILLARY
SERVICE
5
SUPPORT
SERVICES
1
COMPLAINTS AGAINST OLD AGE
HOME
--
FINANCIAL HELP /
EMPLOYMENT
--
OTHERS
--
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
=
ELDERS
HELPLINE - 1090
(A joint
project of Bangalore City Police & Nightingales Medical Trust)
SOME SUCCESSFULLY RESOLVED CASES
= = =
Inpatient programmed of
Freedom Foundation plus a de-addiction programmed with the CAIM helped
rehabilitate a brother who had been harassing the complainant , his sister.
Several
senior citizens had invested in a financial company The latter had defaulted
in payment . Through the intercession of the helpline several clients have
been paid . The process is continuing.
The
senior citizen reported that the son who had a disability was short tempered
with them and even his wife was indifferent . Professional help for the son
had been sought but the psychiatrist had pronounced the prognosis as
negative. Counselling over several weeks by the helpline had led to positive
results wherein the elder had called up to say that he had become reconciled
to his disability and that greater peace had enveloped the home environment.
A
couple had separated and lived apart. The lady in a rented house where some
belongings of the husband were stored . Under police supervision the man
took away his possessions but in reality he took some of her things in the
place of his own possessions which he left behind. For a second time the
police were asked to trace the man. He has a drinking problem and his wife
is handicapped. Around the time of the second intercession by the helpline
in the affairs of the couple a reconciliation was effected and the couple
now, once again,live together.
The
senior citizens lived on a floor above neighbour who had placed the
air-conditioner compressor on the lintel below the window of the floor above
. The vibrations there of were causing a great deal of audio discomfort to
the elders. The society management was informed and resolution was effected
by putting iron brackets under the lintel which reduced the vibration.
A
father and son dispute over property .While the portion of the house which
was usually given on rent , was being whitewashed between rentees , the son
stole the keys of the place and occupied it illegally . EHL intervened and
brought about an amicable settlement between father and the son . The father
was dependent upon the rent to repay a loan he had availed of .
7.
The operations of an illegal gas godown in front of a senior citizens
residence was generating a great deal of noise pollution. EHL sent a notice
to the godown owners . They responded positively by shifting premises within
a month of the notice being served on them .
8.
A senior citizen was yet to be paid arears of his provident fund from the
finance company he had retired from . After protracted correspondence
between EHL and the company , eventually the money was paid .
9.
A senior citizen who had given a transformer for repair was duped with a
poorly performing transformer being returned for his use . When his own
efforts to get justice failed , he called in for help at EHL . A compromise
was arrived at by the return of the transformer to the repairer and the
payment of a compensation amount of Rs 1000 to the senior citizen .
10. Misunderstanding between
father son over a share of the property had heightened suspicious so high on
the side of the son, that communication had broken down completely between
the two . Reacting to the breakdown in communication the father sought the
intercession of EHL to evacuate the son and his family from the house .
Protracted counselling led to the dissolving of the suspicious and the
arriving at a reconcillation between the two.
11. A sickly retired person had
unsuccessfully sought information with regard to the transfer of this
pension papers from the AG's office Kerala to Bangalore . Two visits from
EHL and ther papers were found enabling the senior citizen to access his
pension .
12. The senior citizen's
complaint was that his tenant had occupied the rented space after paying a
small sum towards the advance payable .Thereafter neither was rent
forthcoming nor the remaining deposit amount . EHL intercession led to the
tenant vacating the premises .
The senior citizen was
anxious to have firm information that his son had transferred the gifted
motor cycle into his own name . For otherwise , the elder feared being
forced into financial commitments on behalf of his son. As he had made
enquiries regarding the transfer at the wrong RTO zonal office , he was
anxious and sought the help of EHL. The misunderstanding was cleared when
EHL visited the appropriate RTO office.
Residents of a colony used the
good offices of a senior citizens to complain and seek the intercession of
EHL with regard to high noise pollution emanating from a temple close by .
The Karnataka sate pollution control Board had upon visiting the spot
recorded noise decibels higher than the permitted levels . Nevertheless no
action had been taken , Besides a registering of complaints at the police
station had also gone unheeded . The authorities at the Jain Temple however,
did reduce the volume after being sent a letter by an EHL lawyer , for
consultations on the subject matter.
The
generator for the college was positioned in a manner whereby fumes were
enveloping the residence of the senior citizen. EHL intercession led to the
repositioning of the same giving relief to all the affected residences.
An elderly spinster with cancer
gave for safe keeping of the documents relating to her finances ( pass book
, F.D's ) to the pastor, afraid of ignominy , returned all the documents.
Both husband and wife had
invested money in a financial institution. His was a larger amount than
hers. EHL intercession led to an agreement whereby the principle amounts
alone were repayable - for the lady's amount in 2 installments and for the
gents amount in 4 installments - as per the RBI guidelines.
Although the property had been
divided and the daughter given her share she was perceived that more was due
to her and harassed her father on that score. Counselling at EHL led to an
amicable settlement.
A lady complainant reported that
the neighbour was harassing her . EHL asked the area police station to look
into the matter.
EHL received a complaint of
missing elder with a copy to area police station. They were directed to the
control rooms of C.O.P from while the message was subsequently flashed to
all area police stations, D.D, A,.I.R .The elder was subsequently located.
A written complaint stated that
additional beat police were required in their area as the inflow of people availing
of commercial services at one end of the road , was high. The complainant
wanted the beat book to be in his custody for monitoring the beat constable.
EHL spoke to the concerned authorities and the needful was done.
A tenant had repaid the deposit
amount but had not vacated. A call notice from EHL led to the vacation of
the space.
The complainant reported that a
generator in the neighbourhood was the cause of high noise pollution. We
asked her to send a copy of the complaint to the pollution board who
thereafter took action by having the generator re-positioned.
As the daughter -in-law was quarrelling
with both her husband and her mother-in-law , the latter wanted to shift out
of the home . Counselling sessions at EHL helped bring about an amicable
resolution of the problem .
Neighbours jackfruit tree was
slanting at the electrical wires . EHL made a home visit and gave a deadline
for the branches to be cut down . This was done and the matter settled
amicably.
Elder's son died and all he
compensation by the factory was given to the nominee , his wife. The latter
in turn was uninterested in looking after the mother - in - law. Counselling
sessions led to an agreement on the pat of the daughter-in-law to give some maintenance
to the mother-in-law who shifted into an old age home.
Report was regarding
certification of 80 year old's hawking trolley and the fruits on it. EHL got
in touch with the concerned police station. The goods were returned and a
warning issued .
Complainant had invested in UTI
Senior citizen's Unit Plan covering all medical expenses. When on a
particular occasion he wanted to avail of this facility , the hospital
informed the patient that the arrangements between them and the UTI NO
longer existed. EHL's correspondence led to a clarification on why the
arrangement had been stopped and UTI agreed to reimburse the complainant at
another hospital ,as a gesture of good will.
Complainant's son had gone out
of control once he entered college. He took to stealing and abusive
behaviour. EHL's counselling sessions helped him and the elder reported
marked improvement in his son thereafter.
Elder harassed by son and
daughter-in-law who assaulted her physically. Home visit by EHL confirmed
the situation. As elder wished to go to her brother residing at her native
village. EHL asked the son to comply. The lady was sent to her brother.
An elderly couple had given a
token advance for the lease of a flat which finally they did not occupy. The
problem was that the landlord was unwilling to refund the advance . Repeat
contacts and interactions ultimately won the day and the money was refunded
December 3, 2003
Elders Helpline 1090, a joint
project of the Banglaore City Police and the Nightingales Medical
Trust Offers free legal advice and conciliation through alternative dispute
redressal methods on Thursday, the 10th July 2003 between 2.00 p.m and 5 p.m
at its office in the premises of the Police Commissioner's office,
No.1, Infantry Road, Lawyers and professionals from Alternative Law Forum
will offer their services.
ELDERS WHO ARE INTERESTED TO AVAIL THE SERVICE CAN CONTACT 1090 /
2943226 OR
Admn . Office : 3548444 / 3548555
TOTAL NO.OF CASES HANDLED IN
THE MONTH OF JUNE -2006
| Elders contacted and availed
help |
35498 |
| Complaints Registered |
4972 |
| Cases Resolved |
2186 |
| Elders availed free legal
advice |
2070 |
| Elders availed counseling
|
1408 |
| Home visits |
343 |
| Cases were handled with
Police Intervention |
704 |
| Elders rescused from Old age homes |
17 |
| Elders rehabililated |
92 |
| Seeking Information |
13512 |
.