INDIA: Land Will Be Allotted For Senior Citizen Facilities

CHENNAI, Tamil Nadu (The Hindu), November 12, 2007: The Tamil Nadu State Government will recommend that the Chennai Corporation allot two grounds of its land for establishing a home and other facilities for senior citizens. Granting a request made by representatives of the Tamil Nadu Senior Citizens Association on Sunday, Electricity Minister Arcot N. Veeraswami said a portion of the land adjoining the MLA’s office at Anna Nagar would be given on a 33-year lease to the association. He also announced a grant of Rs.2,500,000 from the Local Area Development Fund for building the home and other infrastructure. The government would also consider opening a government-run home for senior citizens near here, he said. Mr. Veeraswami was participating in the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Tamil Nadu Senior Citizens Association. With break-up of the joint family system, the need for more facilities for seniors has grown. A few organisations, he said, had come forward to set aside two percent of their net profit for setting up old age homes, and many of them had also requested the government for land. Calling for creating of awareness of the rights of the elderly, Mr. Veeraswami said he would open talks with the management of Kalaignar TV on airing programmes on senior citizens. The geriatric ward at the Chennai general hospital had received overwhelming support from the elderly, as it was rendering free and quality treatment. The association was intensifying efforts at forming an integrated platform for helping senior citizens, C. Dorairaj, association president, said. Despite the financial constraints, it had organised medical camps and tour programmes for the elderly, besides offering counselling services. Though incomes were rising, more senior citizens were ending up in old age homes owing to the collapse of the joint family system, Savithri Vaithi, chairperson, Vishranthi Charitable Trust, said. Senior citizens nominated by the association were honoured for their “efforts at retaining their dignity and independence despite advancing age.” Copyright © 2007, The Hindu.