Big Relief: Punjab’s Helpline for persons with speech and hearing difficulties
Raju William
Chandigarh, March 30, 2020: Queries are pouring in from different parts of Punjab and even Chandigarh since the state government set up the Helpline exclusively for the persons with hearing and speech difficulties to address their problem during COVID-19 lockdown.
Gurpreet Kaur Sapra, Director, Department of Social Security and Women and Child Development, Punjab told babushahi.com that the targeted beneficiaries can use WhatsApp Video Calling Helpline number 98881-76357 (Nitesh Kumar) to converse in the Sign language.
All of them are advised to use video calling between 9 am and 6 pm. However, in case of any emergency video calling can be done between 10 pm and 8 am. They have also been advised to plan their calls and inform the Interpreter before visiting doctor. The Interpreters are medical experts, Sapra clarified.
Since the launch of the helpline 4 days ago, video calls have come from Patiala, Ludhiana, Moga, Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib districts and Chandigarh. The number of calls is expected to increase as more beneficiaries come to know about the helpline. The callers have been sharing a wide range of problems being faced by them.
Their problems are being responded and solved depending on the nature of their urgency. For instance, the battery of hearing aid of Saurabh Saini of Mohali was drained. He had sought information about the shops from where he could get these. After apprising the concerned police officer on duty, the cells were delivered at his residence.
Jagdeep Singh of Patiala used the helpline to ask about the website and the helpline number on which he has to report about visitors from abroad. In another instance, Manjinder Dhillon of Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib district asked for information about precautionary measure as he was not feeling well. He was guided to the nearest doctor. Most of the queries related to guidelines and precautionary measures need to be taken.