India's first pan-India toll-free helpline 'Elder Line' launched

·        India's first pan-India toll-free helpline - 14567 - called 'Elder Line' has been officially launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

·        Its purpose is to provide information, guidance, emotional support, and immediate assistance in cases of abuse.

·        According to the ministry, the objective of 'Elder Line' is to provide a platform to all senior citizens, or their well-wishers across the country, to get information and guidance about the problems they face on a day-to-day basis.

·        ‘Elder Line’ has already been provided by 17 states in the country, and efforts are on to launch it at other places as well.

Important facts

About Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

v The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is a ministry of the Government of India. It works to improve the welfare, social justice, and empowerment of the underprivileged and marginalized sections of the society including Scheduled Castes (SC), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Transgender and LGBTQ people, disabled, elderly, and drug victims.

v In May 1998, the Ministry of Welfare was renamed as Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.