Smart wellness centre for senior citizens in Odisha capital soon

Bhubaneswar: In a bid to bring smile on face of senior citizens after their retirement from business and work, Odisha government is planning to open a smart wellness centre for them here.

The proposed centre will be set up by Odisha Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities department (SSEPD) in joint collaboration with Tata Trusts in an area of approximately 15,000 square feet at BMC Bhawani Mall located at Saheed Nagar area in the city.

The centre titled as ‘Anand’ will provide all kinds of facilities for the senior citizens, who are away from their children, to spend their leisure time.

The authorities are planning to expand the project to other districts in future if it gets success in the city.

There will be selling point, healthcare centre, food stall, public service centre relating to Aadhaar/PAN/Voter ID card, entertainment, library and study centre inside ‘Anand’.

It will create a positive environment to make the senior citizens happy after their retirement. In view of popularity and demand of the centre, it will be expanded to other locations of the city.

Further initiative will be taken towards setting up the wellness centre in district headquarters if the project gets success in Bhubaneswar, said SSEPD Joint Secretary Deba Prasad Dash.

A model will be prepared in view of requirements and tastes of senior citizens to ensure them to be stress free and enjoy the leisure time along with others at the centre. The model for the proposed project has been sent to the state government for approval.

As per the agreement, the SSEPD in partnership with Tata Trusts will take management charge of the centre for the first five years. Later, ‘Anand’ will be managed by the senior citizens.