The Abused and Abandoned: Who Cares (INDIA)

International Day for the Elderly

By Shivani Vig, TNN 30

September 2009

Sitting under a tin-shed, Urmila Devi (65) and Mala (90) consider themselves a few of the luckier ones, for they at least have a roof over their head- a bedroom in the Swaraj Vridha Ashram

Their wrinkled faces, vacant stares, fading sight and weak bodies speak of an alarming trend-- that in many family homes, there's no longer room for old people. On the eve of the International Day for the Elderly, The Times of India visited a shelter home for the aged in Panki and noted that Urmila and Mala were not alone in their plight.

A common thread of battering, abuse, neglect, harassment and even abandoning binds the 28-odd inmates of this shelter. And, although, there may not be a 'Munna Bhai' to bring solace to the dull lives of these elderlies, as was with those staying in 'Second Innings Home' in 'Lage Raho Munna Bhai', efforts of a few godsend individuals for opening up a shelter home for elderly surely seems to fulfil the purpose of making these elderly lead a respectful life.

"They are people whom no one wants. They were either refused by their family or were found on the streets. And there are those who fell victim to the busy lives of their families," says Manju Bhatia, who has opened the Swaraj Ashram in 2007.

A few of them even do not remember where they come from. "Mala devi is one such inmate who can't even recall the name of his son. The school staff where she used to work had brought her here," says Rani Bhatia, who looks after all the elderly in the ashram. 


Abridged
SOURCE:   Times of India

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