Dehradun, Oct. 2 -- Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday said the state government is strengthening the old-age home network and rolling out new initiatives to ensure the welfare, dignity and healthcare of senior citizens in Uttarakhand. Speaking at a state-level programme on the occasion of International Day of Older Persons at the Himalayan Cultural Center in Nimbuwala, Dehradun, Dhami said government-run old-age homes are already operational in Bageshwar, Chamoli and Uttarkashi, while new facilities are under construction in Dehradun, Almora and Champawat. With central support, a model old-age home is also coming up in Rudrapur (Udham Singh Nagar), while the process of establishing such homes is underway in Rudraprayag, Tehri, Pauri and Pithoragarh, he added. "Senior citizens are the pillars of our society. Their blessings and experiences guide us all," Dhami said. He added that the state government, in coordination with the Centre, is running several schemes to ensure respect, safety, health and financial stability for the elderly. These include the Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana, Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana and the Old Age Pension Scheme. Currently, pensions are being transferred directly to the bank accounts of nearly six lakh senior citizens through DBT," the chief minister said....