Youth reach out with arms wide open

Barely five kilometres away from the Kempegowda International Airport lies an exclusive gated community with facilities like a well-equipped fitness centre, medical centre, library, banquet hall and more. But before you think of investing in a two or three BHK there, ask yourself if you fall under the ‘senior citizen’ category as it’s built exclusively for the aged. With people increasingly looking for independance and not wanting to impose on their kids, such luxury retirement homes come as a boon.

But for those not fortunate enough to invest in such properties, there are a few young people like Deepika (name changed) and her friends from Nirmaan Organisation. Aiming to ease the troubles of the aged, Deepika, a corporate trainer and a group of young professionals have started an initiative to offer them a solution that’s long term. “There are enough and more drives to collect blankets, food and clothes for the aged and destitute. But these resources are easily exhausted. We wanted to do something that’s more permanent by training people in vocational skills that can help them earn money and support themselves,” shares Deepika. This initiative by the group, supported by HelpAge India, comes on the back of a recent survey that placed India among the worst countries for senior citizens. “Learning a skill at such a late age not only helps them earn a little bit of money but also keeps their mind engaged and some of them are even excited at the prospect,” she adds.

MS Kamath, who works closely with the aged, shares that the modern lifestyle is to blame for the rise in senior citizens being ignored and put in homes. “People don’t have the time and the patience anymore to care for the aged. Busy work schedules and financial difficulties are the reasons for the rise in more and more elderly people finding themselves in old age homes,” says Kamath, who does his part by taking them off the streets, getting them hospitalised, treated and then providing them a place to live in through the NGO, Senior Citizens Bangalore. “It’s not easy not living on your own terms but it gives you a community of people that backs you, friends you can share your troubles with and it’s not like you’re permanently cut off from your family,” explains K Murthy, who is a resident of a home in south Bengaluru. With a number of do-gooders helping out, we hope the country becomes a better place for the citizens who created the people who are today driving its economy.