:BENGALURU 15TH JUNE 2024 
To mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Elders Helpline, a joint project of Bengaluru City Police and Nightingales Medical Trust launched free digital literacy and cyber safety training programs on Saturday, 15th June at 11am at the Conference Hall of the Office of the Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru.
Mr. B Dayananda IPS , Commissioner of Police , Bengaluru City Police was the Chief guest and launched the training program. Siddeshwara N. KAS, Director, Department for the Differently Abled and Senior Citizens, Govt of Karnataka was the guest of honour.
An awareness session on Cyber safety will be conducted as part of the programme .Ms Shivaratha S., Police inspector , CEN (Cybercrime , Economic offences and Narcotics) Division –North gave a very informative talk on the various types of cyber crimes happening and sensitized the elders about the precautions that need to be taken to prevent such crimes. There is an urgent need to create awareness among the elderly community on the risks involved and to train them on the safe usage of smartphones and the internet.
The welcome address was by S Premkumar Raja , the Co founder and Secretary of Nightingales Medical Trust.He welcomed the gathering and spoke about observing world Elder Abuse awareness day and preventing crimes against elderly and the need to now focus on cyber-crimes that have started increasing. He thanked the Police Commissioner for providing a space for functioning of the Elders Helpline from the Commissioner’s office.
The Chief guest, B Dayananda IPS , Commissioner of Police addressed the gathering and responded that the shifting of the Helpline from Basaveshwara Nagar police station to Commissioner’s office was in response to the request received last year from senior citizens. He commended the work of the Elder Helpline and stated that he has referred several cases and reviews the performance regularly.
The guest of Honour, . Siddeshwara N. KAS, Director, Department for the Differently Abled and Senior Citizens, Govt of Karnataka spoke about the various schemes being run by the government for senior citizens , including a new scheme announced in this budget to conduct cataract screening camps and cataract surgery free of cost to senior citizens at the district level.
He also spoke about the need for more awareness regarding the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizen Act to address issues of elder abuse and expressed that the younger generation should seek guidance and get inspiration from the older generation.
Elders in distress in Bengaluru can call 1090 / 080 23352833 or 112 and ask for the Elders Helpline, or can WhatsApp the Helpline on 80950 01090. An anonymous complaint regarding an abused elderly can also be raised through the website https://stopelderabuse.in/.
The Elders Helpline is functioning from the Command Centre, adjacent to the back gate of the Office of the Commissioner of Police, #1, Ali Askar Road, Bengaluru -560051. The free ‘Digital Literacy and Cyber Safety training for senior citizens” launched will be taken up at various locations across the city. This would be a half-day session with lecture mode and one to one teaching. Elders interested in taking part can also register through the Elders Helpline.
