‘Retired, but not tired.’ That’s the motto of Indian Bank Retirees Trivandrum (IBRT),a city-based organisation of former bankers. True to the motto, the NGO will be organising a party, making this a special Onam for the girls from economically disadvantaged families staying at Agasthyakudeeram Balikasadanam, near Kottoor. The event is on August 28.
Founded in 2010, IBRT was meant to be a platform for the retired employees to get-together and engage in socio-cultural activities. “But we soon started charitable work and over the last seven years we have carried out several such activities,” says Hariharan B, founding adviser of IBRT.
Distribution of clothes to patients at Regional Cancer Centre, supplying trade tools to the trainees in Central Rehabilitation Centre for Physically Challenged, helping patients of Government General hospital fund their dialysis treatments, are some of the social service projects carried out by IBRT.
All charitable activities are funded by the 160 active members themselves. “Many of our members have even set aside a portion of their pension for this purpose,” says J.V. Krishnan, president of IBRT.
The former bankers have started buying essential items for the 43 girls at the Balikasadanam. They have bought gadgets such as mixer grinder and pressure cooker for the hostel kitchen.
Krishnan adds,“Seventy of us will be hiring a bus and going to Kottoor. The plan is to join the girls for the sadhya and spend some time with them. We’ll also be donating clothes for them.”