Koraput: The police administration here has decided to form a senior citizens' forum to ensure their all-round security and address their grievances.

Koraput assistant superintendent of police V.R. Rao, the forum's nodal officer, said it would be formed at Koraput town on a pilot basis, and initially, at least 100 senior citizens would be included in the forum.

"The forum will consist of at least five to seven senior citizens of the area, and they will select its remaining members numbering 100. Senior citizens, whose children are away, will be considered on a priority basis," Rao said.

He said all the forum members would be given special identity cards and the police would visit their homes once every fortnight to help them resolve their problems.

"Nodal officers at the police station will be selected. They will interact with the senior citizens to understand their problems and take necessary measures to resolve their issues at the earliest."

"It's not that senior citizens - not included the forum - will not get police attention. But, the more emphasis will be given to address the grievances of the enlisted senior citizens."

Most of the senior citizens raised problems related to parking, being forced to stand in long queues in banks, hospitals, non-availability of seats at buses and several other issues in the meeting.

"The senior citizens registered in the forum would be given preferential treatment. They will also be given a special phone number. Getting their call, the cops will reach them at the minimum response time."

"Detailed data of the forum members will be kept at the district police headquarters, and the cops would attend to all complaints of the senior citizens on a priority basis," Rao said.

Local people have hailed the decision. "The forum will undoubtedly provide the much-needed assurance to the senior citizens of the town. But, it has just been conceptualised and its success depends on how it functions," said Ajit Sahu, a lawyer.