Central MLA Bonda Uma Maheswara Rao on Sunday said that the government had approved proposals for establishing three old age homes, each at Visakhapatnam, Guntur and Anantapur, which together can accommodate 300 people.
An amount of ₹1.39 crore had been allotted for the purpose, the legislator said.
Speaking at an event in connection with the International Day of Old Persons here, he said the Anantapur district administration had already identified a non-governmental organisation to execute the project while Guntur and Vizag were yet to identify the partners.The government had recently issued orders permitting the AP Differently-Abled and Senior Citizens’ Assistance Corporation (APDASCAC) to extend the supply of aids, appliances and devices to senior citizens on a par with the differently-abled and ₹57.49 lakh had been allotted for 11,050 senior citizens.
Four more homes
He said four homes for destitute, aged and differently-abled persons would be established at Srikakulam, Eluru, Nellore and Kurnool with an estimated budget of ₹1.86 crore.
Senior citizens could dial 1100, a toll-free number, to reach Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Mr. Uma said.
ID cards
The Commissioner of the Department of Differently-abled and Senior Citizens Welfare, Chakravarthy, said identity cards were issued to senior citizens for free entry into municipal parks for activities like yoga and walking.
Later, Zilla Parishad Chairperson Gadde Anuradha launched the department’s website for the benefit of senior citizens.
“You can log on to the website from your computers or mobile phones and get information and also apply for gadgets,” she said.
APDASCAC chairman G. Koteswara Rao and office-bearers of senior citizens’ associations took part in the meeting in which several senior citizens were felicitated.