Govt to conduct census of elderly citizens in state

The government will conduct a census of the elderly citizens in the state, chief ministerPinarayi Vijayansaid.
While reviewing various projects being implemented for elderly citizens by various departments here, the chief minister said that the census will be held on the lines of the census of the physically challenged conducted in 2015. He said that data on the functioning of old age homes and destitute homes also will be collected. The chief minister instructed the Women and child development department to utilize the Services ofanganwadiworkers for the census.

The chief minister also asked the departments to conduct awareness among the elderly Population about various programmes being implemented for them. Several of them are losing the eligible services because they are unaware of such programmes. The services of local body ward members, Health inspectors, socialjusticeofficials,Ashaworkers, anganwadi workers and Kudumbashree workers should be utilized for conducting awareness campaigns, the chief minister said.