INDIA: Elders At Old Age Home Enjoy Parents Day On Their Own

VADODARA, Gujarat (Financial Express), July 22, 2007: Their offsprings turned their faces, but their spirit still not dampening. The elders at Jalaram Seva Trust Old Age Home here bluntly refuse to celebrate Parents Day with children who left them when their warmth and support was much needed. Young folk from the Consider Group, supported by Indu Health Research Foundation (IHRF) and Lions Club, screened two films — Saathi and Munnabhai MBBS on Sunday. The joie de vivre got doubled as an industrialist, Rakesh Panchal, celebrated his eight-year-old son’s birthday with the seniors. Said Panchal: “To imbibe good values in my only son Rutvik and also to get elders’ blessings, I decided to celebrate the occasion with these people here. I could not imagine a better place than Jalaram Seva Trust to celebrate Rutvik’s birthday". “We always spend Parents Day with our parents, however this year we thought to make use of the occasion to bring some happiness to the 70-odd senior citizens at this old age home,” said Sumit Shah, Vice-President of Consider Group. Interestingly, these senior citizens had refused to meet their children on this occasion. There are many old people here who have no kins. One official said “We tried to contact some relatives, but only four turned up. There are 12 couples who do not have relatives or children and there are some whose spouses are no more”. Jashoda Desai (60) enjoyed the movies thoroughly. ”I have no child to inherit my husband's property. I stay here as no one takes my care. Life has been already been squandered for well-being of others. Now I live for my self.” Jashoda is all by herself at this home. Her husband passed away a year ago, disclosed Chandrakant Upadhyaya, Manager of the Jalaram Seva Trust. “Such events help these senior citizens help forget their past. They live in the present happily," Upadhaya added. © 2007: Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Ltd