Dear Bhagavatas:The suggestions of Sri Sampathkumaran are really worthwhile and should be started as sooon as possible.
In fact, I was the General Secretary of - - ?South Madras Senior Citizens? Council" (SMN-SCC)- Committee member of the ?Association of Homes for the Elderly, Tamilnadu and Pondicherry? affiliated to ?Helpage India? - Voluntary Educator in the "Consumer Education Program" of ?South Madras Consumers? Protection Council?(SMN-CPC).
I was associated with the running of several ?Old age homes? working with - Smt. Savitri Vaithi of ?Monday Charity Club?, - Mrs. C. Prem Kumar of ?The Madras Seva Sadan?, - Sri R. Desikan. President of ?Consumers? Association of India?, - Dr. V. S. Natarajan, the ?Gerontology Consultant? at the Government General Hospital, Chennai and - Lt. Col. Sri T.K. Vijayarangan, President SCC.
Some of the Old age institutions with which I was associated:1. ?Vishranti?, at Rajeswari Gardens, Palavakkam, Chennai (mentioned by Sri Sampath Kumaran). Accommodation is provided to about 100 senior inmates. This is open ONLY to the old, disabled and / or orphaned Senior Citizens ABSOLUTELY FREE OF CHARGE.
2. ?Sai Charan? at Sastrinagar, Adyar, Chennai ? Dormitory type rooms are provided with all facilities to Senior inmates on payment of a NOMINAL maintenance charge per bed (Rs.400/= to Rs.600/=)+ a NOMINAL REFUNDABLE deposit(of about Rs.2000/=-Rs.5000/=). This is a self-supporting organization.
3. ?Senior Citizens? Resort? at Muttukkadu. Here, one could ?purchase? a flat (1 or 2 Bedroom) at a reasonable price and stay there as long as one wished to but on quitting the flat could be sold back ONLY to the ?Resort? at a reasonable price to be fixed by the Administration of the Resort at the time of quitting.
In all the above, FREE vegetarian food and boiled water (heated with solar heater) are supplied. Other facilities provided FREE OF COST include - - A ?Health Center? to which leading doctors in various disciplines periodically visited for regular check up and for emergency services for the inmates. - ?Occupational therapy Courses? like stitching, crocheting etc. and other Social service programs. - A ?Yoga Kendra? for imparting simple exercises to keep the inmates fit and healthy. - A ?Recreation Pavilion? for providing recreational facilities like Chess, Caroms and other indoor games. - A ?Games Pavilion? for outdoor games for those who could participate. - A ?Bhajan Mandali?, a ?Music Ensmble?, an ?Arts Gallery? and a ?Histrionic Troupe? to encourage their hidden talents. - An ?Excursion Group? to take the inmates on short picnics for a change. - A ?Legal cell? to help any legal problems faced by the inmates.
- And many more (including even traditional funeral services!)His Holiness Prakritam Azhagiya Singhar is well aware of and appreciative of my involvement in the above activities, while I was in India.
I was then a resident of Besantnagar and even to date, I have contacts with them
There is another ?Sri Ramanuja Ashramam? at Sriperumpudoor run by a staunch Srivaishnava Swamin. One of my relatives is there for over 3 years and I have visited the Ashramam, several times. It is, indeed,a model for anyone trying to start a home like that.
If required, I will be happy to place my services and experience in the field at the disposal of the proposed project.
Dasoham Anbil Ramaswamy ======================================================================= _________________________________________________________________Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail
Home Page
http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia |
srirangasri-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To subscribe to the list |