The Friends of Senior Citizens Welfare Association has lambasted the Union Government’s decision to discontinue the operation of the ‘Elder Line’ (14567) for senior citizens at the state level.
Kerala had the highest life expectancy due to the quality of health services in the state. It also had the highest proportion of seniors in the country. In this context, the Elder Line benefited the Keralites the most.
The helpline was critical in informing relevant authorities about elder abuse and the needs and problems of seniors who faced isolation. Those who called the helpline were contacted by experts and counselors to take swift legal action, rescue or rehabilitation.
This highly beneficial initiative was now to be discontinued by the Union government at the state level from April 1 and its functioning transformed into zonal operations, with Kerala included in the southern zone to be headquartered in Telangana, the association said.
This will make the currently easy and transparent Elder Line service very difficult for the elderly to access, as they will have to dial 14567 to choose from the language options offered via phone keypad inputs and wait for instructions.
There may be a problem with connecting calls during heavy traffic. Information on state programs can be difficult to obtain. The future of plans prepared with the involvement of Elder Line, such as the rapid response team Sallapam and Sayamprabha, was also uncertain, the company said.
The association called on the Union government to re-examine the decision, which it said would make life difficult for senior citizens.
Published – 21 Feb 2026 22:26 IST
