In India, now the proportion of the aged, senior citizens is increasing
day by day. Till recent years, the aged were respected in the society
and in their families.
There
was joint family system and the head of the family would be the father
or the grand father who was aged and the family members will respect
him and follow his directions in the maintenance of the family because
of the joint family system, other near relatives of the head of the
family, who were also age can find safety in the family. They had proper
care and protection, eventhough they were destitutes and orphans.
Now, due to various reasons, there is disintegration in the concept of
joint family system and because of this nuclear family system emerged. In
most of the families both, the husband and wife are going for employment
and they have not time to look after the aged of the house. The elders,
the aged, the senior citizens are considered to be unwanted and even
liabilities of the family and in the same houses they are often ill
treated.
Taking this fact into consideration, the Government of Puducherry had
proposed to start an aged home in Puducherry and rules were framed vide
G.O Ms.No.74/77-HEW(SW), dt.12.05.1997, with appointment of Government of
India.
The Aged Home was established on with 4 aged persons at Vinoba Nagar
in a rented building. At present, there are 30 inmates, female 22 and
male 8. Now also the home is functioning in a rented building in the
main road of Krishna Nagar, Puducherry. A land for construction of own
building has been acquired at Venkateswara Nagar and the work is yet
to be started.
In
this home, poor aged persons of 60 years and above, who have no relatives
or who are left as destitute are admitted after personal enquiry.
They are provided with free food, clothing and shelter. They are given
medical treatment as per the need by the need by the near Lawspet PHC
and if referred they are sent to Government Hospital or to JIPMER for
further treatment. There are persons having high blood pressure and
sugar and they are taking medicines regularly. Daily after obtaining
it from G.H or from Lawspet PHC at free of cost.
For time passing, Television, Newspaper, Library books and weekly
magazines are made available to them. They are taken on tour once in a
year. They are sent, on leave to their relatives or friends houses to
attend functions and death ceremonies, if they wish otherwise they can
live in the home till their death.
There is no cast or creed for admission in the home. The main criteria is
they should be 60 years and above, without any income and they should not
have any contagious disease. They are admitted based on the medical
certificate issued by the G.H., Puducherry.
The inmates provided with cots and enough beddings. Boxes and bedside
lockers are provided to keep their belongings safely. To meet their petty
expenses 50 paise per day per inmate was provided (vide G.O. Ms. No.
34/93-Wel (SW), dt. 25.05.1993) from 1993 to December 2004. Now it has
been enhanced to Rs. 2/- per day per inmate vide G.O. Ms. No. 47/2004-Wel
(SW V), dt 31.12.2004 and from January 2005, they are benefited because of
this.
Like that the diet and non-diet scale are also revised vide G.O. Ms. No.
6/2005-Wcl (SW V) dt. 15.02.2005 and it was effected from 01.04.2005.
In case of death of an inmate, the fact of death will be informed to the
next of kin, who will take custody of the body within 4 hours of being
informed and they will bear the funeral expenses. If it is not taken
possession of, the religious rites of the deceased inmate are conducted by
the home itself. Rs. 100/- was allowed to meet this expenditure and steps
are being taken to increase this amount to Rs. 1,000/- as the cost of
every thing has been linked.
For the past seven years, the amount mentioned below was the expenditure
incurred for the maintenance of this home.
The year wise particulars of inmates as follows:-
| YEAR |
UNDER NON-PLAN |
UNDER PLAN |
| 2000-2001 |
10.70 Lakhs |
0.25 |
| 2001-2002 |
11.41 Lakhs |
0.25 |
| 2002-2003 |
11.92 Lakhs |
0.25 |
| 2003-2004 |
10.51 Lakhs |
0.25 |
| 2004-2005 |
11.64 Lakhs |
0.25 |
| 2005-2006 |
14.50 Lakhs |
0.25 |
| 2006-2007 |
15.26 Lakhs |
0.25 |
The home is often visited by student, nurses, doctors and NSS students.
The inmates were found to enjoy these moments when they used to share
their experiences with youngsters. Apart form this, the aged home
functions to be a fine refuge, to the senior citizens who are in need.
