Bhubaneswar, Oct. 1: Senior citizens in the city today urged the state government to create a separate department and frame a special policy to address their socio-economic and geriatric concerns.

The demand was made on the occasion of International Day for Older Persons.

“If the government forms a separate department for older persons like it has separate for women and children, it will help focus on economic, social and geriatric problems,” said Krupasindhu Sahu, president of the state Senior Citizen’s Forum.

Senior citizens today organised a procession from Ram Mandir Square to Master Canteen Square to celebrate International Day for Older Persons. Apart from senior citizens, sports personalities, the mayor and people of different age groups took part in the rally. Later, the senior citizens organised health camps and other activities at various places in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

In VSS Nagar, the Senior Citizens’ Forum met to observe the day. Later in the afternoon, they held programmes in Cuttack and at Bhimatangi in Bhubaneswar.

With the city growing exponentially and people getting more materialistic, senior citizens are forced to stay alone and far away from their working children.

“Not only are we emotionally and socially deserted, but also we feel unsafe with attacks on elderly people taking place of late. We feel that the government should take urgent steps to ensure our safety,” said Sahoo, who was recently elected vice-president of All-India Senior Citizens’ Forum.

The city police had started a Senior Citizen Security Cell more than three years ago in 10 police stations in the twin cities. In each of these police stations, a nodal officer was appointed to look into the affairs of the senior citizens who had enrolled with the cell.

However, the senior citizens said they felt the cell had become inactive as the nodal officer hardly visited their areas.

“Whenever we complain about it, the officials blame it on the lack of personnel and work pressure,” said a senior citizens from VSS Nagar.

Police commissioner R.P. Sharma said he had ordered the nodal officers to take their senior citizen activities seriously and find time to visit the elderly people residing in their areas on a regular basis.

“We will ensure that the cell covers more police stations and more elderly people are brought under it so that we can provide security to them. Besides, we are issuing guidelines for them to follow to ensure their own safety and security,” said Sharma.