NGO to find life partners for single senior citizens

Visakhapatnam: The Ahmedabad-based NGO Anubandh Foundation has made it its mission to get single senior citizens to meet and marry, or more likely, re-marry. Its Jeevan Saathi Sammelan, devoted to such re-marriages is apparently getting quite a big response across the country.

One of its successes is an 81-year-old widower from Rajasthan, who has six children and 15 grandchildren, but was alone for all that, since this large family was engaged in its own pursuits. He suffered from psychosomatic disorders which damaged his health. His children thought it a good idea to get him a partner and he got married in the presence of all his family members.

A 61-year-old widow, neglected by her five children, suffered from loneliness and ill health. One of her sisters approached the NGO and she found a life partner. Surprisingly, after the marriage, her children and their families have much better relations with her.

Children who are busy with their own lives have little time to spare for an elderly single parent and Anubandh Foundation is the answer to their problem. The NGO conducts Jeevan Saathi Sammelan programmes every alternate month across the country.

The foundation was established by Natu Bhai Patel of Ahmedabad, in 2002 after he witnessed the troubles of several single senior citizens who had lost their family members in the Kutch earthquake.

When he started the programme, 200 men and 15 women registered their names for re-marriage. Since then, 56 sammelans have been held across the country and 154 re-marriages performed.

“I have observed single senior citizens and their troubles after losing family in the disaster. Everyone should have one life partner, particularly in life's last innings,” Natu Bhai told this correspondent.