Jahangir Lolabi
Budgam, November 28:
District Social Welfare Officer, Budgam, Dr. Syed Farhana Asgar, JKAS today kick started operationalization of Senior Citizens Home in Budgam for senior citizens of the District. The home was operationalized in presence of TSWO Budgam, Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad and other sectoral officers of the department.
The facility is set up by the Department of Social Welfare Budgam, Government of Jammu & Kashmir under Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojna (AVYAY) of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India. The Home is aimed to provide an array of facilities to Senior citizens like shelter, food, clothing, recreational facilities, library, stress management, counseling, social support, legal assistance, medical assistance and other basic life facilities. The deprived elderly people registered at Senior Citizens Home would provide all facilities and life support aspects at the home free of cost. The home is facilitated with separate medical staff consisting of a trained doctor and a trained nurse.
According to Dr. Farhana Asgar, JKAS, District Social Welfare Officer Budgam all the facilities would be made available as per the guidelines of the scheme free of cost to the senior citizens.”I am thankful to Director, Social Welfare, Kashmir and District Ddministration Budgam for this noble initiative in the district” DSWO added. She said that at Senior Citizens Home, senior citizens could get involved in a lot of activities. This place has a functional library that includes books on the discourses of religion, philosophy, history etc for the senior citizens. The facility also has computers, LCD TV, Carom, Chess and other tools of recreational recourse for the elderly at Senior Citizens Home. The government has kept several staff members available at this center along with all required facilities.
“Some retainer and lawyers are also available to assist senior citizens. The home can help senior citizens to get enlisted for various Government schemes, old-age pension, drafting of petitions against abuse, and file applications etc. Above all, senior citizens can get regular health check-ups at home as specialist doctors and yoga therapist are readily available” Dr. Farhana added while highlighting the facilities available at the home. Pertinent to mention here, the management of the home has been outsourced to a renowned organization – J&K Students Welfare Mission.
