VIJAYAWADA: R.G.K.V. Prasad's son has settled in Maryland, US. Though the young man is doing well, he has a constant worry about his father's health back home. They may be in regular contact, but distance matters most when it comes to the emotional well-being of the ageing parents.

S.V. Appa Rao, a retired faculty member of Andhra Loyola College, has a similar story. His two children are doing well in the US, but back home the thought of distance continues to prick him. The children are always concerned about his health.

Most parents of NRIs face this problem and they have finally hit upon the idea of coming under one roof. They wanted to construct a "Senior Citizen's Home" exclusively meant for NRIs' parents. This would have an integrated medical facility in the home itself to attend to immediate health needs of the occupants. It would offer geriatric care and emotional support.

Association formed

They formed the Telugu NRIs Parents Association in the city a few days ago with its office located at D-5, Venkata Balaji Towers, Mogalrajapuram, with their e-mail address: telugunrispa@yahoo.co.in. Several doctors have pledged their support to the association's activities. A. Premchand, former principal of Gandhi Medical College, Warangal, and currently head of the Department of Ophthalmology at Pinnamaneni Siddhartha Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, played a crucial role in forming the association. Dr. Premchand was actively associated with the free eye camps organised by the Lions Club.

Director of Agriculture (Retired) Dronavalli Venkateswara Rao, Chief Security Officer of Singareni Collieries P. Venkateswara Rao, social worker Kodali Subhash Chandra Bose, retired bank officer N. Rajagopala Rao and others are office bearers in the executive committee. Secretary of Venkata Balaji Onwers' Association K. Sree Rama Chandra Murthy and others have joined the association as executive members.

New building soon

They have decided to construct the Old Age Home for NRIs' parents in the 25-cent plot of land donated to the association by Lavu Sukhadeva of Washington DC Telugu Association. The land was located adjacent to the National Highway No 5 at Pottipadu village near Gannavaram.

The Pinnamaneni Medical College was just 3 km from the site and the NRIs' Parents Association decided to enter a tie-up with the medical college for delivering medical needs to its members.

Many doctors like surgeon Mulpur Venkateswara Rao, ophthalmologist Lakshmipathi, orthopaedic surgeon Kalesha Vali and diabetic specialist Bhupathi offered their services to the association.

The problems of NRIs' parents were very different from others. No big problem

If they shared common accommodation, this would not be a big problem. They would be able to check their sources and share information from time to time. The association planned to create space for 50 elderly persons in the proposed Senior Citizens' Home. It would have two floors. Besides medical facilities, the home would have additional facilities for cultural programmes, get-togethers with children and grandchildren, and also a special wing to render social service.

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