Fading Janamaithri network in Kerala raises concern about elderly care

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The decease of a 74-year-old retired headteacher, whose assemblage was found  in a decomposed authorities astatine her isolated residence adjacent Purameri successful Kozhikode territory of Kerala aft remaining unnoticed for astir 5 days, has erstwhile again exposed the vulnerability of aged colonisation surviving unsocial and the gradual illness of assemblage policing initiatives erstwhile intended to safeguard them.

Pushpavally was recovered dormant astatine her location aft a section nonmigratory happened to sojourn the residence connected May 2 erstwhile she had not been seen for respective days. Based connected aesculapian reports, the constabulary aboriginal confirmed that the decease happened astir 5 days earlier. 

“The incidental has revived our concerns implicit the weakening Janamaithri policing web and the discontinuation of respective welfare-oriented schemes for radical surviving alone,” says a retired constabulary serviceman from Vadakara expressing disappointment implicit the situation. Special patrol and monitoring systems successful isolated municipality and agrarian residential areas, erstwhile progressive nether Janamaithri schemes, are nary longer functioning nether immoderate constabulary station, helium laments.

Officers who were erstwhile portion of the task launched successful 2008 uncover that insufficient authorities backing has severely affected the tract activities of the scheme. For the past respective years, galore constabulary stations are carrying retired lone nominal activities without immoderate caller projects oregon reviving schemes that were dropped midway, they observe.

Transfer of officers

“Only precise fewer stations present proceed bushed patrolling successful a superior mode and periodic reappraisal meetings with section communities. Residents’ associations, erstwhile considered the backbone of the assemblage policing network, are hardly associated with immoderate unrecorded activities now,” says a residents’ relation functionary from Karaparamba. He points retired that the transportation of immoderate of the progressive officers besides has affected the coordination work.

Local assemblage members who were portion of the task successful the past accidental galore innovative schemes that erstwhile brought laurels to the constabulary assemblage person either slowed down oregon disappeared altogether. The tribal Janamaithri programme, which covered astir 15 tribal settlements successful agrarian Kozhikode is nary longer functioning arsenic primitively envisioned. It had travel to the payment of galore aged tribespeople, they constituent out.  

“A overmuch appreciated constituent of the task had been its absorption connected aged radical successful isolated residential areas. There were periodic location visits, exigency interaction systems and neighbourhood surveillance measures,” recalls a erstwhile Station House Officer who coordinated the schemes successful Kozhikode city. ‘Bell of Faith,’ 1 of the innovative projects, adjacent offered distant power alarm devices to aged persons staying unsocial truthful they tin alert constabulary oregon neighbours during emergencies, helium points out.

Members of assorted elder citizens’ forums successful Kozhikode territory accidental they are struggling to support due liaison with elder constabulary officers to instrumentality guardant their demands successful the area. At the aforesaid time, a elder constabulary serviceman associated with the outreach programmes clarifies that proposals tin again beryllium submitted to the caller authorities seeking the possibilities to revamp the important schemes. The section residents’ forums and societal organisations person a large relation to propulsion for the same, helium notes. 

Published - May 10, 2026 05:02 p.m. IST

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