Vayomithram, a project for the social and psychological empowerment of the elderly under the Kerala State Social Security Mission (KSSSM), was launched in Mukkom municipality on Sunday. Minister for Labour and Excise T.P. Ramakrishnan inaugurated the project office at Mambatta near Mukkom, which will coordinate the service in the municipal area with the support of 16 other regional sub centres.
Municipal authorities said Mukkom was the sixth local self-government body in Kozhikode district to have the special project to care for its elderly population. A survey would be carried out shortly to shortlist all eligible beneficiaries above the age of 65 to give them the benefits of the scheme, they said.
₹25 lakh invested
The municipality invested ₹25 lakh to start operations, which would mainly include free medical care for the elderly and their rehabilitation through the most suitable channel. Doctors and paramedical staff would be part of the initiative to offer door-to-door service to the needy. Opening of geriatrics clubs would also be one of the main objectives of the project.
“In Kozhikode district, the Vayomithram project is extending its benefits to around 5,000 citizens and a majority of them get free medical support,” said Sandhya Hareesh, one of the coordinators of the project. She said the number of persons being supported by various clubs under the project was more than official figures.
Ms. Hareesh said the Kozhikode Corporation was conducting the project successfully under the KSSSM. “It has been functioning here for more than five years. The next local self-government body to launch the project is Koduvally, where all arrangements are now in place,” she said.