4 t h Issue November 2011

Monthly Newsletter of Sukhe Dukkhe Organisation

Sukhe Dukkhe Organisation

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Our visit to Old Age Home....

Most of our dear parents and grandparents spend an old age of loneliness and insecurity. They spend their second childhood in their old age. They too want to be loved and looked after in their old age, they become like attention seeking children. Most of the ones in Old Age Homes don't complain, they just say that, my son or daughter has to go on and I cant be a burden for them! It is left to us to decide how happy their old age can be. You don't need any special day to make them feel their worth. If you have never told them how much you love them, say it before its too late.

On 13th November 2011, we went to Bholananda Biddhrashram, an old age home at Barackpore, to gift them shawl cum blankets for winter. It is not an uncommon place for us, as we visited them before with small helps extended by our members and well-wishers. Most of the inhabitants are from very ordinary family with little support from those who have decided their destination. Most of them were smiling and happy seeing our team. They even recited, sang on our request. But, there were few, who sat without expressions from the time they had entered. More than the happy, smiling ones, they came to our notice. Slowly, the scene out there started changing. Our members started talking to them, to know about their small needs. We tried our best to make them comfortable in accepting the gifts donated by our members so that their selfrespect should not hurt. One lady, aged about 90 years want to have lozenge our members ran to the nearest shop and when they gave some lozenge to her hand, the eyes were sparkling with joy as if she is a child she was so happy we could not hold our tears

Another lady, due to her age could not recognize anyone. She is that unfortunate nonagenarian who brought up Ratan, her nephew and crying most of the time for Ratan ...Ratan...& Ratan. With her anxious query, whether Ratan came to see her, she hold one of our member... such is love... though betrayed by the family who dumped her in an Old Age Home being an invalid due to old age... still her love for Ratan was totally unexplainable.... We came back with a heart filled with pain...but with firm determination to go there again and again. We could not stop people sending their parents and grandparents to Old Age Homes, but at least could spend some time with those helpless aged ones to share their pain, to blossom a smile on their faces..even for a couple of hours... but to make them feel that they are still valuable assets for us.. to be caressed .. loved...respected. Let us express our sincere gratitude to all of our members, well-wishers who extended their help for shawl cum blankets and for arrangement of lunch. We are committed to those helpless faces and all of your warm wishes for our organisation will strengthen our commitment day by day. Secretary

At Bholananda Old Age Home..... 13th Nov 2011

Old age was never a problem in India. Old age homes were alien in concept and elder abuse was considered a Western problem. Not anymore. As life expectancy has increased from 41 years in 1951 to 64 years today, hundreds of old age homes have sprung up in India. Neglect of parents has become a big issue, so much so that the Indian government has passed "The maintenance and welfare of parents and senior citizens bill 2006", which makes it imperative for adult children to look after their parents. As the role of families as a social safety net for the elderly is fast eroding, the poor among the elderly have become the most vulnerable sections of society in India. The Indian government is waking up to meet this challenge head on. At present over 500 NGOs are given grant-in-aid to provide services like old age homes, day care centers, medical facilities etc. for the aged. Old age homes are a necessity in the present day scenario as the younger generation do not have the time or in many cases the resources to meet their needs (like medical expenses, special food etc). But old age homes should be considered only as a secondary option. Elders in the family are definitely an asset. It is they who can impart the much needed ethical values and code of conduct in the younger generation. Old age homes as an option should be considered only for the betterment of the senior citizens by way of better physical and mental status, greater possibility for social bonding etc. Under no pretext should the aged be made to feel that they are a burden and hence turned away.

ABOUT US
SUKHE DUKKHE ORGANISATION WAS FOUNDED BY A GROUP OF YOUNG AND OLD PERSONS TO FULFILL THE DREAM
OF A BETTER LIFE FOR CHILDREN, A BETTER LIFE FOR AGED PERSONS, AND ELEVATION OF WOMEN LIVING BELOW POVERTY LINE BY CREATING SELF HELP GROUP IN THIS COUNTRY.

Edu-Care Project..
Our Edu-care Project is committed to a fun and activity based curriculum. Besides the formal educational systems, drawing, painting, clay modelling, singing, dancing etc. will be also a part of the system. Environmental Education, Awareness regarding Health & Hygiene will also be a part of the curriculum. Parents meeting are also arranged in which general discussion on students achievements, regular attendance at Edu-Care got the pre-eminence in the meeting followed by the topic of cleanliness and health and hygiene. Parents will be advised to take proper care of their children and protect them from any type of abuse. They will be made aware of different kind of violence occurred in the family and society. They will be taught to give same importance to both of their male and female child. Educational tours to Museum, Zoo and Science City and Fun excursions / picnics are also part of the project.

Edu-Care Project.....

Celebrating Childrens Day

Study.... on full swing....

According to Indian government statistics, the primary enrolment ratio was 83.7% and the number of children who reached grade 5 the same academic year was 59.8 %. The high dropout rate is due to the fact that most children in India are poor and cannot afford basic primary education. The main focus in offering education for the poor practice affirmative action as we are trying to bring about equality and equity. In one of our program to educate underprivileged children, we are giving elementary primary education at our registered office with our limited resources to the children of slum dwellers / poor parents of North Kolkata those either not going to proper schools.

Meditation .... and Yoga....

An Evening for Outing.......

Sukhe Dukkhe Organisation

13/B, Santi Ghosh Street Kolkata-700003, West Bengal, INDIA
E mail : sukhedukkhe.org@gmail.com Phone : +91 9830469087

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