The association members meet twice a month where they not only talk of their troubles and issues but also play games and watch films. Elsa Vegnekar, coordinator for the association says the need for them to get together stems from the distance of their families.
“Most of these people have families that live abroad or far away and have little or no interaction with them. This definitely creates a sense of loneliness for them, that’s what makes them together and makes them feel better too,” she says.
Apart from the fun, they also organise talks by experts to help them. In the over a year that the organisation has been functioning, they have had dieticians, physiotherapists and later this month will be having an advocate giving them a talk on how to take care of property and the importance of nominating and making a will.
“All of this becomes necessary because there is no one to help them out. Whether it is exercise or legal aspects, it becomes important to let them know that they can get help and are listened to,” says Vegnekar.
The government’s recent initiative in helping senior citizens by setting up a helpline has been received with mixed reactions. While the police have taken up the initiative of reaching out to the elders, NGOs think it is too early to say if it will work.
Tara Kerkar, president of Savera, an NGO that works with anyone that needs help, may it be the old, women or even children, says senior citizens in the past have had little or no help from either the police or the administration itself.
“I have my limitations about this helpline. There have been instances that I know of, where old men and women have approached the police and the district collectors complaining of harassment from their children or that they are not receiving benefits from a bank or from a scheme. There have been cases where the police have said that if the son is not helping, how can we interfere?” says Kerkar.
She says collectors in the past have said “What can I do?” Registering a simple FIR becomes a major task for these people added to the task of them having to deal with physical and emotional ailments.
Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte too says he has his doubts. “I don’t see this working. So far I have not seen any justice given to these people at the police stations in the past. There have been cases where elderly men and women have been thrown on the streets by their own children,” he says.
What needs to happen, he adds, is for panchayats and municipalities to come together and help this group of people.
Vegnekar says the model of getting them together for them to interact is the best way. “Associations like these are needed all over the State. Loneliness is the biggest issue with most of these people, and this is the best way to deal with it,” she says.
