The city will soon welcome a special wellness and care centre designed for the welfare of senior citizens above 65 years. To be set up by the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC), the proposal for establishing this centre has been given a go-to by the urban development department.

The centre, which will be operational during the day, is slated to provide facilities like a card room and hobby area. Herein, people will be able to participate in activities like yoga, meditation, indoor games, and be provided food and medical care, all at a reasonable monthly fee.

The centre, that will initially be called 'Ullas', will reportedly be constructed in a 1,500 square feet area in Lucknow and include 75 members. Open spaces have been allotted to the centre in order to offer both indoor and outdoor activities to the elderly.

"Within open areas and parks such as Lohia Park and Janeshwar Mishra Park, 2% of construction work can be done. As it is a government supported initiative, the land will have to be provided for the structure. NGOs such as Red Cross or volunteers will be roped in to run the centre and engage the community," Principal secretary, Urban Development, Amrit Abhijat said.

"Ten municipal corporations, heading smart city projects in UP and development authorities will have to come together to execute the concept of wellness and care homes for senior citizens," the official confirmed.

The aim of the initiative is to create a tight-knit community of like-minded senior citizens that are friendly and care about each other.

"Many elderly couples are staying alone there as their children are either settled abroad or are working in metro cities. To battle loneliness the need for such wellness centres was felt," he added.

This will provide a safe space to members and foreseeably develop a self-sustainable home.

-with inputs from IANS