We need to be independent
In December 1983, a group of us elderly people decided to come together under one umbrella to help other senior citizens and do something useful with their time. The Chembur Senior Citizens Association was born on April 17, 1983, with support from the Rotary Club of Chembur. It is a registered association and is home to over 600 members and over 25 patrons. The club is well known in Chembur circles.
Members meet every Thursday evening and activities are conducted in two school premises. Some of the activities we conduct include arranging lectures by promising individuals on a variety of subjects. The last Thursday of the month is dedicated to celebrating the members birthdays. Health being an important issue, we organise health camps and have an acupressure centre that is open to all. There is a library open to all members.
Members are given identity cards and a handbook of useful numbers. The club is very active in social service fields. Tree plantation drives, collection of funds during natural calamities, supplying medical aid etc are but some of the work we do.
Our members are talented and have won prizes in walkathons, races besides contributing articles to magazines.
Today, senior citizens face problems that nobody is willing to address. India does not have a social security system in place. Medical facilities need to be enhanced and insurance benefits have to be improved.
Also, society is changing. The younger generation no longer cares about the old. The joint family is slowly dying a natural death. It is upto the senior citizens to realise they have to be financially independent in their golden years. But to do this, we need help. We need help from the government financial and moral, large corporate companies and those genuinely interested in our welfare. The time has come to look into these issues and act upon them, now.
SV Veera Raghavan
SV Veera Raghavan