Ghaziabad: Operation Savera's outreach workers regularly encounter elderly citizens living alone, cut off from family, and enduring prolonged isolation. However, the program, bound by its mandate, can only intervene for welfare checks or during health emergencies. This limitation came into sharp focus this week after two elderly men, who had been living away from their families, were found dead in Shalimar Garden.
Wide Reach but Limited Scope
With 2.6 lakh senior citizens registered across the district and approximately 7,000 police personnel involved in its implementation, Operation Savera boasts a wide reach. Officials, however, emphasize that the program primarily focuses on emergency response and periodic outreach. It cannot fully address the prolonged loneliness, isolation, or absence of family support that its own workers routinely encounter during home visits.
Recent Incident Details
Police reported that a local unit had visited the residence of Nem Singh (60) and Rakesh Sharma (75) on April 25 as part of routine checks under Operation Savera. Both men had been living alone and away from their families for years. Tragically, their bodies were recovered just two days after the visit.
While officials ruled out foul play in both cases, ACP (Shalimar Garden) Atul Kumar Singh noted that the viscera of Rakesh Sharma were preserved after an autopsy failed to establish a clear cause of death. Nem Singh died from head injuries.
Family Tracing Challenges
Police were unable to trace Sharma's relatives. However, Nem Singh's family was eventually located in Delhi. "He has a 27-year-old son. His wife left him two years after their marriage, and for the last 14 years, he had no contact with his family. Nem Singh was driving Sharma's auto and also served as his caretaker," the ACP explained.
Recurring Issue
Officials say such cases are not uncommon. Beat constables assigned under the program visit registered senior citizens once every three months, sharing emergency contact numbers and discussing basic safety measures. "But that is not enough among the elderly," an official acknowledged.
Emergency Response Limitations
When a distress call is received or a resident is found unwell during a visit, police arrange admission to the nearest hospital. "It depends on their willingness and capacity to pay medical expenses. We do not have any financial power at our disposal," said Additional SP (Protocol) Rajesh Kumar Pandey. If patients are to be admitted to a government hospital, the chief medical officer is informed, and police visits continue until the elderly person returns home.
Pandey noted that families of many elderly residents have been contacted over the years—some living in other states, others abroad—but it is rare for them to return permanently or assume responsibility.
Program Constraints
"Unless there is a medical emergency, complaint, or immediate safety concern, the program has limited scope for longer-term intervention," Pandey said. "We are monitoring agents of the state, with no financial power and limited human resources. There is only so much at our disposal."
The Chief Medical Officer could not be reached for comment.
