Safe passage

Like many elderly people in the city,Maj Gen (retd) Trilok Singh,77,does not like to venture out of his home too often.

A hassle-free free taxi service for senior citizens

Like many elderly people in the city,Maj Gen (retd) Trilok Singh,77,does not like to venture out of his home too often. But after undergoing a joint replacement surgery a few months ago,he had to travel to the hospital for periodic check-ups. I had to visit the doctor twice a month and I would find it very difficult to use public transport. At my age its not easy to travel in buses and auto drivers would always fleece me, says Singh whose home at Tagore Garden is 24 km away from the Research and Referral Hospital in Dhaula Kuan. But when a free taxi-service for senior citizensBuzurgon ke Humsafarwas launched last year in the city,Singh heaved a sigh of relief. I have availed the service countless times and now dont fear being harassed or mugged by drivers, he smiles.

Launched by city-based organisation,Path,the taxi service which has six cars at present aims to put such apprehensions of senior citizens at rest. I noticed that elderly people were always dependent on their children and neighbours to go out. I thought that robbed them of their dignity and I didnt like to see that. So,I thought a free service like this would be the best solution, says Anjali Gupta,founder and managing trustee of the organisation. Last August,she launched the taxi service with one car and soon her fleet grew. The cars have been donated by various organisations. I receive over 24 queries daily,but we are able to attend to only a dozen since we are short staffed, she adds.

Since the volume of calls is high,the service encourages advance bookings of at least 24 hours unless of course its an emergency. The only criteria for availing the service is that the person has to be over 60 and with a genuine need. We usually send the cars to people who have to visit doctors but cant commute on their own. However,we also provide taxis sometimes if they want to go sight seeing or for something else, adds Gupta. The services operate only between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. This,believes Gupta,discourages use of the service for weddings and late night functions.

For Nirmala Kumari,80,the service came as a timely intervention in her medical treatment after a cataract operation. A resident of Vasant Kunj,until till now Kumari was dependent on her son to take her to the hospital. But ever since he became a commercial pilot,he is hardly around. Now I can depend on this service as it is punctual,comfortable and most of all,reliable, she says.

Though the cars are not fitted with wireless radio sets or a GPS facility,Gupta ensures that the drivers are reliable. We have handpicked the drivers and from time to time ask PCR vans to keep an eye over the cars when they see them in the vicinity, she explains.

Gupta is now busy searching for dedicated parking points for the taxis across the city. This will cut down travel time and we will be able to attend to more people, she adds.

For more information see http://www.thepath.in or call 9999866966

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Tags:
taxi
transport