Lonesome no more: A file picture of senior citizens in an old age home

Oct. 1: She was to stay at the function for not more than 15 minutes. But infected by the enthusiasm of the 150-odd elderly people who were waiting for her, Surabala Bordoloi not only stayed put till the end of the programme, she even sang a few lines of a song.

The ailing nonagenarian, whose late husband Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi was Assam’s first chief minister, today inaugurated Prasantiloy, a daycare centre for senior citizens of the city, and returned home a happier person.

Her son Bolin Bordoloi had told the organisers of the event in the morning that she would be unable to withstand the strain of attending a long function.

Mukul Goswami, secretary of Ashadeep, the city-based mental health society that will manage the centre with support from Helpage India, said: “Surabala Bordoloi’s son rang me up in the morning to say she would not be able to stay for long. So, we were asked to keep things ready so that she could complete the rituals within 15 minutes and leave.”

Goswami and his colleagues were, however, pleasantly surprised to see the chief guest arrive at the function in an exceptionally jovial mood. The presence of so many elderly people added to her enthusiasm. She not only sat through the proceedings without complaining about anything, but was also chirpy. The inauguration of Prasantiloy coincided with the International Day for the Elderly, which is observed on October 1 each year.

Helpage India, which has been making life easier for elderly people across the country, will assist Ashadeep in developing the daycare centre into a place where such people can find companionship, entertainment and the opportunity to imbibe and share knowledge and skills.

“The response from elderly people to this project has been overwhelming. We did not expect such acceptance on Day One itself. We had made arrangements for a congregation of about 100 people, but the turnout was much above expectations,” Goswami said.

Over 50 forms for admission into the centre, which can accommodate 30 people, were distributed during the inaugural function. It will be fully operational from October 15.

On the criteria for enrolment, Goswami said the health of prospective members would be the decisive factor. “A mentally or physically ailing person will be our first choice. Then comes the transportation factor. Since we do not have a vehicle to pick up or drop members, we would initially prefer people who are based near the centre.”

Prasantiloy is located at the intersection of Rajgarh bylane number 9 and the Pub Sarania main road. It has three full-time employees. The services of Ashadeep’s medical personnel will be made available to members.

On the programmes lined up for members, Goswami said there would be constant counselling and group therapy to help them overcome loneliness and frustration, both of which are common in elderly people. The members will be encouraged to pass their skills to children at the Ashadeep daycare centre along Islampur Road.

There will be yoga and other physical activities, too, to keep the members physically fit.

Goswami said Helpage India would provide nearly 60 per cent of the estimated Rs 4.5 lakh annual budget. “As for the rest, we will have to manage with local resources.”

Addressing the gathering at the inauguration ceremony, Kamrup (metropolitan) deputy commissioner A.K. Absar Hazarika lauded both Ashadeep and Helpage India for taking the initiative to help elderly people overcome their problems.

He said senior citizens constituted 40 per cent of the city’s 14 lakh-plus population and more daycare centres were required. “We need at least a hundred of them, and the sooner these are set up the better.”

Helpage India programme adviser Nilondra Tania, former chief secretary H.. Das and Ashadeep’s director Anjana Goswami were the other speakers at the function.

An exhibition of products made by people above 60 was organised as part of the inaugural programme. Six elderly persons exhibited products like mekhela-chadar, woollen garments and pickles.