Udupi: K. Raghupati Bhat, MLA, said on Monday that a Daycare Centre for Senior Citizens will be opened at Board High School here soon.

He was speaking after inaugurating the International Day of Older Persons organised by the district administration. Guruva Koraga, a 103-year-old traditional drum beater, was felicitated on the occasion.

Mr. Bhat said the centre was a long-pending demand of the District Senior Citizens’ Forum. It could come up at the Board High School compound as it was easily accessible to senior citizens because of its proximity to City Bus Stand and Service Bus Stand. The forum had agreed to supervise its maintenance. All efforts would be made to provide basic facilities required for the centre.

A separate help-desk would be established at the Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) to help senior citizens. There would be a separate provision for them to pay their local taxes and for getting various certificates at the Udupi CMC, he said.

Mr. Bhat said that there were many cases of children ill-treating elderly parents. This was happening even in educated sections. At the same time, there were examples of people taking care of elderly relatives who were not their parents. It was essential that such persons were identified and felicitated.