Mangalore: Free screening of 'Chak De India'
Mangaluru, Oct 22: A free screening of the Hindi movie 'Chak De India,' was held for senior citizens at the Adlabs Multiplex in the city on Tuesday Oct 21. The event was organized by AGE (Action Group for Elderly) Mangalore, a social initiative promoted by a local NGO group, in association with Adlabs/Reliance group.
About
150
inmates
of
seven
institutions—Little
Sisters
of
the
Poor,
St
Anne's,
St
Anthony's
Home
for
the
Aged,
Prashant
Nivas,
Abhaya
Ashram,
Girdhar
Ashram,
and
Vishwas—were
taken
by
bus,
sponsored
by
a
philanthropist,
for
the
movie
accompanied
by
100
members
of
the
AGE
group.
After
the
screening,
a
beaming
83-year-old
Sanjiva
Shetty
declared,
'Baari
kushi
aandoo'
(I
am
very
happy).
'It
was
a
well-organized
show.
I
want
to
give
a
big
thanks
to
the
organizers
for
giving
us
a
good
time
worth
remembering,'
said
C
F
D'Couto,
another
senior
citizen.
M
Raghavan,
president,
AGE
Mangalore,
speaking
to
Daijiworld
said,
"We
thank
the
management
of
Adlabs
multiplex,
especially
Sudha
and
Bala
Shetty,
for
screening
this
film
free
exclusively
for
the
benefit
of
senior
citizens.
I
am
especially
happy
for
the
old
age
home
inmates
for
whom
a
day
out
from
the
regulated
confines
of
their
homes
has
been
made
possible.
Ultimately,
our
aim
is
to
make
them
happy,
within
our
own
limitations."
AGE
Mangalore
began
as
a
day
care
centre
in
1994,
pioneered
by
Dr
Bansal.
It
was
then
known
as
'Ashraya,'
and
today
functions
independently
in
KMC
headed
by
Dr
Prabha
Adhikari.
Members
of
AGE
are
also
part
of
Ashraya,
engaged
in
social
work
for
the
aged
by
conducting
form
of
yoga,
and
exercise
sessions.
They
also
have
a
geriatric
ward
at
KMC.
The
concept
of
providing
entertainment
for
the
elderly
in
this
manner
began
two
years
ago,
an
idea
mooted
by
Shamim
Kunil,
a
former
president
of
AGE.
AGE has its office at 'Sahodaya,' opposite Balmatta grounds. The organization conducts activities for inmates of old age homes on October 1, which happens to be World Elders Day. The inmates participate in skits, dance, drama, and singing. AGE has been conducting and sponsoring such activities for the past 12 years, according to Shamim.
She also said that a new concept of visiting old age homes, talking to inmates, conducting games, and providing snacks, has also been introduced recently by the organization. Sudharsini, a member of AGE also takes the inmates to A B Shetty College – KSHEMA at Derlakatte, for health checkups, once a week.
AGE Mangalore is largely funded by well-wishers, Rotary Club, and Inner Wheel Club. It has a hundred members, all aged above 60. An AGE lifetime membership can also be availed with a payment of Rs 200 and a senior citizen card is also provided. For senior citizens not affiliated to any old age homes, there is another group called Vishwas Trust (also associated with AGE, Mangalore) which has a helpline number—1090—managed by the city police department at Pandeshwar. In case of any difficulties faced by the elderly, Vishwas sends its volunteers to provide assistance.
OneIndia News