The story of Mouran Bibi, an elderly woman aged over 80 years from Kailashahar, Babu Bazaar, Ward No. 01 in Unakoti District, reflects both the harsh realities faced by many senior citizens and the life-changing impact of timely institutional intervention. Her case stands as a powerful example of how coordinated efforts between government departments, NGOs, and the Elderline 14567 helpline can restore dignity and security to vulnerable elderly individuals.
Mouran Bibi was living alone in a rented house in Kailashahar. Her only son, married and settled in Bangalore, failed to take responsibility for her care. With no regular income, declining health, and absence of family support, she was left without proper food or shelter. Gradually, her condition worsened to the extent that she began begging and going door to door for food, exposing her to severe physical and emotional distress.
The situation came to the attention of the Elder-line Connect Centre at Agartala when Pushparaj Club & NGO contacted the helpline seeking urgent help and placement in an Old Age Home (OAH). The Elder-line team promptly assessed the case under the leadership of Project Manager Mr. Kamal Gupta and Team Leader Ms. Debashree Roy, recognizing the need for immediate rescue and rehabilitation.
Following standard protocol, the team contacted the Department of Social Welfare and Social Education, Agartala, which guided them to coordinate with Mr. Vidyasagar Debbarma, District Welfare Officer (DWO), Unakoti District. After being informed of the gravity of the situation, Mr. Debbarma took swift action and coordinated with Mr. Binay Deb, Secretary of Pushparaj Club & NGO.
Within a short period, the NGO team successfully rescued Mouran Bibi and shifted her to a One Stop Center (OSC) in Kumarghat. There, she received immediate shelter, food, and supervision under the care of Mr. Paritosh Debnath, while a long-term residential solution was explored.
After careful coordination and identification of a suitable facility, Mouran Bibi was shifted to an Old Age Home at Manipuri Basti, Khowai–Kamalpur Road, run by the NGO Scientific Vision Centre. The facility provided her with a safe environment, regular meals, medical attention, and emotional support. For the first time in years, Mouran Bibi experienced stability, care, and dignity.
A follow-up visit was conducted on 20th August 2025 by Project Manager Kamal Gupta, Team Leader Debashree Roy, and FRL Mr. Vijay Kumar Dhar to assess her well-being. During the interaction, Mouran Bibi expressed that she was feeling much healthier and happier, and confirmed that she was being well cared for by the staff of the old age home. The caretaker of the Scientific Vision Centre also shared positive feedback regarding her adjustment and health.
This successful intervention highlights the effectiveness of Elderline–14567, a National Helpline for Senior Citizens launched by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in collaboration with the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) and State Governments. The helpline aims to address the problems faced by elderly citizens and help them live a safe, dignified, and worry-free life.
In Tripura, the program was initiated by the Social Welfare Department, the nodal agency, and became operational on 20th June 2022. After Alankit Assignments Ltd., GTI Infotel Pvt. Ltd. was selected as the implementing agency to run the program in the state.
The key objectives of Elderline 14567 include reaching out to senior citizens, disseminating information on welfare schemes, addressing grievances, facilitating access to government services, and building trust and hope among the elderly population.
Mouran Bibi’s case is now successfully closed, not merely as a resolved complaint, but as a success story of compassion, coordination, and commitment, proving that with the right systems in place, ageing can still be lived with dignity and care.
