PM Narendra Modi is a living legend: CM
'Health for All' scheme, 'Elderline' toll free helpline number launched
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, September 18 2021: Besides announcing the Chief Minister's Health for All' scheme for the people of Manipur and launching Elderline' toll free helpline number for senior citizens, Chief Minister N Biren on Friday led a mass cleanliness drive and distributed gifts and sweetmeats to destitute children and sanitation workers, patients and attendants of JNIMS Hospital to mark the 71st birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

CM Biren kicked off his busy schedule by participating in a mass cleanliness drive organised at Khwairamband Shamu Makhong by Imphal Municipal Corporation, Imphal East District Police, Narcotics and Affairs of Border (NAB) and Manipur Fire Service.

Similar cleanliness drives were also organised at Manipur Secretariat, government departments and district offices.

Speaking on the occasion, Biren described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a living legend, who has a vision and firm resolve to uplift the needy and weaker sections of the society.

The Prime Minister's gifts to Manipur like ILPS, National Sports University, oxygen plants, free vaccines and free ration during COVID-19 pandemic would be remembered forever, he said while adding that the PM's noble schemes like Ayushman Bharat, PM Kishan and other schemes had benefitted crores of people.

He also stated that in line with the PM's pet project Health for All', the state government introduced the Chief Ministergi Hakshelgi Tengbang Scheme (CMHT) under which 4.19 lakh beneficiaries had been enrolled as on August 31, 2021 under which the card holders may avail services at empanelled hospitals for early identification and diagnosis of 10 diseases including hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, Kidney ailments, chronic respiratory disease like COPD, mental health problems, TB and three common cancers namely oral, breast and cervical.

Regarding 'Elderline', the CM said that senior citizens may contact toll-free number -14567 if they are bothered or harassed by anybody.

He added that they may also seek assistance regarding old-age pension, healthcare, Maintenance Act, legal assistance, mental health issues, homeless, etc.

The helpline, which would be run jointly by the Social Welfare Department, NISD and Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment would remain active from 8 am to 8 pm daily.

Later, N Biren went to Children Home, Dewlahland and distributed gifts and sweetmeats to the residents and then proceeded to JNIMS to distribute sweetmeats to patients, sanitation workers and attendants of the hospital to mark the birthday celebration of Narendra Modi.

At Old Secretariat complex, chief secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar launched the cleanliness campaign to celebrate PM Modi's birthday where he also planted a tree sapling with the participation of Commissioner (Power) Kh Raghumani, Commissioner (Revenue) RK Dinesh, Secretary (Law) Nungshi Tombi Athokpam, Commissioner (Seri, Vety & Special Secretary Home) H Gyan Prakash, additional Secretary RD & PR H Guite, Under Secretary (Forest, Environment & Finance/PIC) A Heera Singh and Under Secretary (GAD) Koshoni Phimu.

All officers, officials of Secretariat North and South Blocks including staff of all sections too participated in the campaign by cleaning their respective offices, rooms, sections, corridors and compounds by maintaining Covid appropriate behaviour.

With regard to launch of Elderline by the chief minister, Social Welfare director Ngangom Uttam explained that it will be managed by Alankit Assignments Limited and will remain operational on all week days.

It has two key components, a connect centre/call centre manned by officers who empathise with the senior citizen and understand the problem they are facing, he lold media persons at the Social Welfare office.

The Social Welfare director appealed to the senior citizens, their care givers or anybody representing the senior citizen to call and avail the Elderline for various services and conveyed that the helpline team, through the field officers, will assist senior citizens in getting their abuse complaint resolved through Maintenance Tribunals (for the enforcement of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007) or with the help of other stakeholders empanelled with the Elderline for facilitating the cause of the senior citizens as in whenever it is deemed appropriately required.

He further said that with the launch of the Elderline, the problems and grievances of senior citizens are expected to be resolved expeditiously and help them to age with dignity and joy.

During the press conference, a sum of Rs 20,000 as one-time benefit under National Family Benefit Scheme was also handed over by Ng Uttam to Moirangthem Pushpa Chanu of Huidrom Makha Leikai, Sekta, Imphal East whose husband (Late) Huidrom Vivekanta Meitei passed away due to an unfortunate road accident on August 11 at Chingarel Tezpur, Imphal East while he was on his way to collect fertiliser for rice cultivation.

The press conference was attended by Alankit Assignment Limited assistant vice president Sanjay Bhat, Alankit East Zone zonal head Monalisa Borkakoty and officials of Social Welfare Department and Elderline, Manipur.

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