Railways urged to provide mobile van service to ferry elderly people

New Delhi, Feb.20 (ANI): Bharatiya Patita Uddhar Samiti (BPUS) President Kharati Lal Bhola has requested Indian Railways to ensure mobile van service to ferry senior citizens, as they have to confront a lot of problems while approaching Railway Stations.

In a letter written to the Union Railway Minister, Mamta Banerjee, Bhola has tried to draw the Indian Railways' attention to the plight of the senior citizens of the country who are often found wanting and usually looking towards others for help due to age or physical ailments.

"In our country the most needy and helpless are the senior citizens who are totally dependent on their housemates for moving out of their houses. They think twice before moving out of their houses for the conveyance. To reach railway stations, they face lot of difficulties and suffer mental agony," Bhola said through the letter addressed to the Union Railway Minister.

Citing the example of foreign countries where mobile trolleys are ready to carry senior citizens to the railway stations and these people neihter face difficulty nor remain dependent on others, the Indian Railways should also take some steps keeping the needs of the elderly to enable them get access to railway stations without problem, the NGO's letter stated.

In this regard, mobile vans for the elderly people with three month reservations should be started to carry them from their residence to railway stations. As for conveyance, these people face a lot of problems while boarding taxies, buses, auto rickshaws, etc., the letter further stated.

The NGO says, the railways authorities can duly charge for such a service. Such a step would be of immense relief and help to the senior citizens of the country. (ANI)