The Times of India            01.10.2013 

NMC's senior citizens week with health camps, other activities

NAGPUR: Senior citizens stepping out of the house for a morning walk, or going to pay their water or property tax bills will be greeted with roses this week by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). The civic body has also planned health check-up camps for them as part of senior citizens week from October 1 to 7 in all 72 wards. This extra attention to senior citizens follows directives from the central government to celebrate senior citizens week.

Mayor Anil Sole directed officials to involve as many senior citizens as possible in all the programmes this week at a meeting on Monday. Sole will kick-off the weeklong celebrations at a programme organized at 6.30am on Tuesday at Children's Traffic Park.

Chairman of health consultative committee Ramesh Shingare said that the process to issue senior citizens card will also be started during the weeklong drive. "Government has asked NMC to issue the cards so senior citizens can avail concessions while travelling and in other schemes. Health check-up of senior citizens will be conducted in each ward. Two private hospitals have been roped in to organize the camps in each ward. Corporator from the wards will fill up the forms and ensure check-up of senior citizens. Hospitals have agreed to hold the camps free of cost as a social cause," he said.

Corporator Sunil Agrawal said top priority will be given from now to senior citizens coming to pay water and property tax bills. "Instructions have been given to all zone offices to follow this rule. Roses will be presented to senior citizens over the week. Even medicines for a few diseases will be provided free to senior citizens," he said. "Citizens above 65 years can avail the health check-up facility between 6.30am and 9.30am at identified places," he said.

Deputy director of health Dr Milind Ganvir said the government directives were to celebrate senior citizens day, but NMC has planned a week of celebrations.

The highlight of the week will be programmes organized in Dharampeth Zone. NMC and Arneja Hospital will conduct health check-up of senior citizens at seven locations over the week between 6.30am and 9.30am. The camp will be organized at Children Traffic Park on October 1, Telangkhedi Garden on October 2, Kasturba Society in Verma Layout on October 3, Shankar Nagar Garden on October 4, Japanese Garden on October 5, Abhyankar Nagar on October 6 and Shivaji Nagar Garden on October 7.