Senior citizens in Indra Nagar take steady steps towards self-sufficiency

Sharan — Towards Mutual Support, a network of senior citizens based out at Indra Nagar, Adyar, are watching out for each other and organising a slew of activities to beat loneliness.

R. Shanker and T.S. Venkatraman, long-time residents of 12th Cross Street in Indra Nagar, were instrumental in the formation of the association in 2010.

“Earlier, there were only a handful of members. Now, by word of mouth, the forum has increased to 100 elderly persons. They are residents of Indra Nagar, Besant Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Kotturpuram and Kottivakkam,” says Rama Kashyap, honorary secretary of the association.

One common factor binds all the members is that their children are living abroad.

Sharan organises get-togethers for its members.

“We go for a walk along the Besant Nagar beach. At times, we gather for breakfast or a dinner under the moonlight. We also go to movies together,” says Rama Kashyap.

Besides, these seniors go on pilgrimages and have also gone on excursions outside the country.

“We have made trips to Badrinath and Kedarnath and to places of tourist significance in Rajasthan, Kerala and Karnataka. A few years ago, we had visited Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and China,” says Rama.

The forum organises talks on subjects such as health and finance that are of interest to senior citizens.

Members of the forum say it is important to get to know your neighbours and suggested that senior citizens should come forward and make an attempt to have close-knit peer groups in their respective neighbourhoods.

This July, Sharan will be entering its ninth year. Anyone interested in becoming a member of the group may call Rama Kashyap at 9940027108.