JAMMU: As the world is reeling under the threat of COVID-19 leaving the senior citizens as the most vulnerable segment, J&K State legal Services Authority (SLSA) has launched a helpline under Serve-the-Seniors Initiative under the guidance of Justice Gita Mittal, Patron-in-Chief J&K SLSA and Justice Rajesh Bindal, Executive Chairman J&K SLSA.
The objective of starting this helpline, comprising senior officers, is to help and facilitate the senior citizens who live alone and are unable to step out to get medicines, groceries and other essentials in this hour of crisis.
The helpilne will have Naushad Ahmad Khan (Jammu) 9622283677, Sandeep Kour (Jammu) 9419223000, Noor Mohammad (Kashmir) 9419005744, Tabasum Qadir Parray (Kashmir) 7889835567, Spalzes Angmo (Ladakh) 9419341131 and Tsewang Phuntsog (Ladakh) 9419978757 as the Nodal officers.
The SLSA has taken up this initiative realising the fact that the elderly are doubly affected by the COVID-19 lockdown and are not only vulnerable to contracting the virus in view of their old age but are in tremendous difficulty to manage their day to day needs, particularly groceries, medicines etc. Moreover, their mandatory hospital visits are also being facilitated by the officers on the helpline.
Pertinently, this effort is an addition to the number of helplines already launched by J&K SLSA for stranded labourers, general public, victims of domestic violence and children in the backdrop of this dreaded pandemic.
These help lines have received 19,439 calls till April 21, 2020 thus benefitting 57,370 people across the country. In addition, J&K SLSA has also launched “Activity KARONA” for children in the age group of 3-15 years in which 497 entries have been received, so far.
The J&K SLSA is trying to reach out to each and every needy and vulnerable section of the society at this critical period.