On 15 August when the whole nation was celebrating the 77th Independence Day, 85-year-old Shushma Mandekar, who lives alone, was trying to cope with her daily routine with shaky hands, in her house. It was also her birthday but no one was there even to remind her. There was only silence around her, when she heard knocks on the main door. When she opened it, her eyes could not believe what they saw!
It was the most unexpected surprise for her as there stood North Goa SP Nidhin Valsan with few police personnel and members of 24×7 Care Foundation. They were there to celebrate her birthday. They presented her a bouquet and sweets and spent some time with her to celebrate her birthday. The same scene was repeated at the home of Doren D’Souza, an 85-year-old who lives alone, too.
These heart-touching gestures were part of a beautiful initiative started by North Goa Police with the NGO ‘24×7 Care Foundation’ for the welfare of senior citizens living alone. Under this initiative, North Goa Police have initiated various programs in the district. Independence Day was chosen to highlight the value of freedom, patriotism, and also compassion. As flags were distributed under the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, birthdays too were celebrated.
Indian Masterminds spoke with North Goa SP Nidhin Valsan, an IPS officer of 2012 batch, and Ashish Garg, Founder President of NGO 24×7 Care Foundation, to know about this initiative in detail.
HOW IT STARTED
Goa Police did a survey in March this year on senior citizens living alone and found that 300 senior citizens are living alone in North Goa. Hence an initiative was taken to instill a strong sense of safety in them and build a cheerful relation with them so that they no longer feel alone in their homes.
North Goa Police collaborated with 24×7 Care Foundation to start this initiative and from 1 August, both police and foundation members started visiting the homes of senior citizens.
SP Valsan said, “We are trying to build a relationship with the elderly so that they don’t feel lonely. We are also trying to instill a sense of safety in them. We celebrated ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ with them, too. I visited elderly people’s homes and distributed our flag as a symbol of patriotism and unity. They were so happy. It was really a nice feeling to see smiles on their faces.”
The initiative has three main elements, Project Ashirwad, Project Sashskt and Project Sashakt.
Mr. Garg said, “Nidhin sir asked us to collaborate. So we started the survey and segregated the data. We got the number of senior citizens living alone, and then collected their background details. Then we started visiting them from 1 August. This 15 of August, we planned with North Goa Police to celebrate Har Ghar Tiranga and birthdays too.”
PROJECT ASHIRVAD
Project Ashirwad includes visiting senior citizens living alone, to build rapport and celebrate their birthdays in their own homes. Some vendors have been hired to distribute bouquets and greeting cards. Police officials also visit the homes of the senior citizens to wish them.
Mr. Garg said, “We coordinate with the local SHO and inform them about the senior citizens that we are going to visit. Then, our hired vendors get the senior citizens sweet and bouquets. Police officials also reach there with Ashirvad greeting cards which has all the information about the initiative as well as police contacts.”
PROJECT SMART ELDER
Project Smart Elder is an initiative to give little technical knowledge to senior citizens so that they can easily operate their smart phones, bank accounts, etc. They are also provided social media knowledge so that they can use YouTube and other platforms which will help them fight loneliness.
Mr. Garg said, “We make our elderly tech savvy and provide them awareness about cyber crimes and its prevention. So that they can run some useful apps for grocery, transportation, etc. There are many who can’t go to banks and also can’t do online banking. So a little bit of tech knowledge can make their life easy.”
PROJECT SASHAKT
Project Sashakt empowers senior citizens by spreading legal awareness and providing free legal advices.
Mr. Garg said, “Birthday celebration is mere excuse. We are actually trying to convey our respect and love to our senior citizens which they really deserve.”
RESEARCH PAPER
With the help of police, 24×7 Care Foundation is also preparing a research paper on the challenges that senior citizens are facing in North Goa. These papers will be submitted to the state government. Mr. Garg said, “It will be helpful as the government might help to fight the challenges. We are regularly visiting the houses of the elderly and preparing the documents for research.”
