A senior MCD official said, " The rising number of cases of senior citizens being thrown out of their homes by their own children forced the corporation to take this novel step."

"Each of the 272 MCD wards will have a home for senior citizens," the official said. There are 70 million people who are above the age of 60 and around 30 per cent - a staggering 21 million - of them are destitute. Delhi alone accounts for about 30 lakh citizens above 60.

The plan would first be implemented in West Delhi's Shalimar Bagh area. " The senior citizens' home will be first constructed in Shalimar Bagh. It is a huge area and we have found many senior citizens there who want to live away from their families due to ill treatment," said Delhi mayor Aarti Mehra.

The MCD has allocated Rs 272 crore to start constructing the homes within this financial year. " Each home would have 72 rooms, with all the usual recreational facilities like a library, sports room, carom board room and badminton," the official said.

He added, " Consultants would soon be appointed to design these centres, which would give out the warmth of normal residential homes."