New Beginning: 57-year-old Murlidhar Godya is one of the many senior citizens to begin a new career. MUMBAI (CNN-IBN), December 5, 2007:
It’s a special day for the Godya family in Mumbai as Radhika gives her husband Murlidhar a warm send off on the beginning of his second career. Fifty-seven-year-old Murlidhar is thrilled to begin a new career at a juncture in life when others simply prepare themselves to lie back and rest.
“It is better to wear out than to rust out. I had to do something,” Murlidhar said as he opted for a training centre where he is planning learn more about e-mail customer services.
He is one of the many senior citizens who have decided to work beyond their retirement age even if the job is something that they are not used to. And preparing them for this challenge is the Dignity Foundation's second careers program.
“It is the feeling of ‘I want to be useful’ or ‘I want to be part of the mainstream again’ that makes the senior citizens want to do something,” President of Dignity Foundation Sheilu Srinivasan said.
Apart from Murlidhar there are many others like 68-year-old Benson Hayeems who retired from work eight years ago but works for eight hours a day and six days a week as an administrative manager in a growing IT concern.
Hayeems decided to put his experience and skills to use once again a couple of months ago and it didn't take him long to find an employer.
“Experience always works and of course faithfulness and loyalty also counts,” Harjit Singh, Manager Operations of Foub Interactive said.
Hayeems and Murlidhar are examples of how a busy and fruitful schedule can be started once again. And it is the steady flow of visitors to the Dignity Foundation that shows senior citizens of Mumbai are eager to find new avenues and experiences.
By Nimisha Srivastava
© 2007 IBNLive.com India
