With nuclear families being the order of the day, elderly persons are left in solitude, so to say.
To help them cope up with loneliness and age-related social problems, is an NGO – Silvers Group at Lake View Road, that brings them under one umbrella and engages them in welfare activities.
The group founded by Ambika Nava of West Mambalam, consists of over 50 men and women (aged 50 and above) from areas like T Nagar, Kodambakkam, Ashok Nagar, apart from West Mambalam.
Ambika, the woman behind all this, explains on the unique name given to the forum. “Just to identify the group as a unit of people aged 50 (mostly with silver-coloured hair), I named it as Silvers Group,” she says, adding, “There has been a tremendous response from both men and women residents to join us.”
So what kind of activities do they do? “We have monthly meets mostly at places like orphanages, homes for aged, destitute women and organise programmes there. Our members are well experienced in various fields and prefer to spend time for elderly people who feel lonely. Silvers Group also conducts entertainment programmes and tours to make them feel like a family and enjoy their lives. We also do charitable activities at various locations,” she states.
It may be noted that recently, the group’s members celebrated Deepavali with the inmates of Charu Home for the Aged at T Nagar, and distributed sarees, fruits, sweets and crackers.
“Likewise, we are planning to set up similar events in the days to come. Our aim is to offer comfort in the best possible way by interacting and engaging them in social activities,” she notes.
Ambika Nava can be reached at 98841 21886.