The elderly and neglected in Motihari and many other places in north Bihar can soon hope for a roof above their head, some warmth in their, often, pathetic lives and balm for their bruised hearts.

The nagar parishad plans to build an old age home in Motihari town to provide assistance to the neglected elderly people. It would be a first of its kind in the region.

"The proposed home to be constructed by the nagar parishad would the first one of its kind in the district. Later, some NGO would be assigned to look after its functioning effectively," said chief councillor Prakash Asthana.

He further said that the old age home would cater to the elderly inhabitants living in five commissionerates, which consists of 20 districts, in north Bihar.

"Following instructions from the state government, the East Champaran district administration has already provided an acre of land for the construction of this old age home near Motihari's ITI College. The premises would be wholly owned by the state government," said additional collector Bharath Kumar Dubey.

"After earmarking land for the said purpose, Motihari Nagar Parishad has also been given a no-objection certificate to proceed with the construction work, so that work on the old age home can be started at the earliest," the additional collector said.

Chief councillor Prakash Asthana first came up with the proposal for an old age home in the town about a year and a half ago.

According to him, construction work on the old age home would begin from July this year.

The money for undertaking this project is being allotted under the 13th Finance Commission.

The chief councillor had put this proposal before the government earlier too.

"The old age home would offer elderly people full attention on every front, including health, library services and other resources for recreation," Asthana said.

There are many elderly people in Motihari and other places in north Bihar who are living in dire straits, either because they have been disowned by uncaring and insensitive offspring or because they have nobody to look after them in their old age.

The effort of the administration would go a long way to alleviate the pain the elderly in north Bihar areas undergo and also help give them a somewhat dignified life.

According to a census data compiled in 1991, among the larger states, Bihar has one of the lowest geriatric populations at 6.3 per cent. Kerala has the highest elderly population at 10.48 per cent and Assam has the lowest.