Balangir: Boudh police superintendent Sudhanshu Sekhar Mishra has handed over identity cards to senior citizens registered with the Senior Citizen Security Cell at an awareness meeting held in Kantamal police station recently.

A booklet, containing the names and contact details of senior district police officers and of the officers of all police stations in the area, was also given to the senior citizens along with the identity card.

Flashing these identity cards, senior citizens will be able to get help from their local police stations at any time. Senior police officers hoped that the initiative would help develop a sense of security and confidence among the elderly people of the society.

Mishra told the senior citizens that the identity cards would come handy for them in public places. "The identity cards will help senior citizens easily get the privileges they deserve in places such as banks, bus stands and railway reservation counters," Mishra said.

The police plan to visit various villages within the limits of Kantamal police station twice every month to meet the elderly people and hear their grievances. "Each village will have a visiting register on behalf of the police. The cop will visit the villages on the 15th and last day every month and will try to solve the problems faced by the elderly," Mishra said.

Deputy superintendent of police in the District Intelligence Bureau Bipin Bihari Behera co-ordinated the programme.