The Shivraj government of Madhya Pradesh will start a luxurious old age home in Bhopal in December this year. This old age home will be run by the Social Justice and Disabled Welfare Department.
Prateek Hajela, Principal Secretary, Social Justice Department, said, “India has many old age homes with modern facilities. These old age homes are either run by NGOs or private companies. But in Madhya Pradesh, a special kind of old age home for senior citizens will be started by the Social Justice Department. This old age home will be for such people who can pay the fee for different facilities.
Facilities like five star hotel will be available
This old age home is being built by the Public Works Department (PWD) for Rs 10 crore. It will have all the facilities. From floor to wall design, everything is being done by experts. Hajela told that the rooms of this old age home will be as luxurious as a five star hotel. He said that the state government is planning to hire a private company having hospitality experience to manage the old age home.
…then such old age homes will start in other cities also
Madhya Pradesh Social Justice Department is going to start this old age home in Bhopal as a pilot project. “If it is successful, it will be rolled out in other cities as well,” Hajela said. This old age home is being started to provide a safe place to the people living a comfortable life and now living alone. Their safety is also a matter of concern as Madhya Pradesh is the second most unsafe place for senior citizens.
Over 57 lakh senior citizens in the state
Let us tell you that according to the 2011 census, Madhya Pradesh is at the seventh position in terms of population and the population of senior citizens in the state is more than 57 lakhs. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report states that after Maharashtra, MP is the most unsafe place for senior citizens. In the year 2020, 4602 cases of crime against senior citizens have been registered. Crime against senior citizens has been increasing by 10% every year since 2018.