Elders struggle with inaccessible Aavin office

“We’re not even in a position to walk. How can they expect us to climb these stairs? It’s been more than a year, but our complaints are falling on deaf ears,” said V Chandra Sekar, a 75-year-old resident of Besant Nagar.

“Most often, we’ve to request others to renew our cards too. We took up the issue with Assistant General Manager at the Aavin office, but in vain. After we threatened to complain to the Managing Director, he agreed to open a counter for a day in a month on the ground floor. That option is not acceptable for us as there are many senior citizens who walk in on different days.”

Patrons of the booth said if Aavin doesn’t take any steps on a priority, the senior citizens would’ve to write a letter to the Chief Minister on the behaviour of the officials. Earlier, there was a similar facility on the ground floor, but at some point they discontinued it, they claimed.

“We’ve to walk for a kilometre to renew our cards. The stairs don’t have even proper handrail till the end. We are having difficulties to reach the office. For last one year, we are struggling for a solution to this issue. But, it seems, the officials are not bothered,” said Kamatchi S, who came to renew her card on Thursday.

Speaking to DT Next, Shanmugam, Deputy Manager, Aavin zonal office said, “There is also an online facility to renew their cards. We are planning to set up a booth on the ground floor, which will be functioning for 15 days every month.”