The Greater Chennai City Police helplines for senior citizens -- the toll free helpline 1253 as well as the Bandham helpline 9499957575 -- have received 3,433 calls for assistance so far this year.
The toll-free senior citizen helpline 1253 has been operated by the Greater Chennai Police since 2004, and it offers emergency help, medical aid, and safety support. The helpline was launched for the purpose of rendering assistance to senior citizens aged 60 years and above. The police said 2,242 calls were received on this helpline; 17 of them were for legal assistance and hence, they were forwarded to the police inspectors concerned. Others calls related to assistance from the other departments were also received, and they were forwarded to the authorities concerned, a press release stated.
