The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Lighting up the lives of the desolate

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 04, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Lighting up the lives of the desolate

Staff Reporter

`Anandam', started in 2003, takes care of 20 persons who don't have children or income

CHENNAI: They come from different backgrounds, yet they have been weaved into a family.

Every inmate of `Anandam,' a home for senior citizens, had a tale of woe to narrate when they stepped into the home at Ambattur. Now, they spend their lives cheerfully. `Anandam,' which seeks to light up the lives of desolate senior citizens, was started in 2003. It houses 20 elderly persons in the age group of 60-80, who do not have children or any means of income. The inmates have been accommodated in three adjacent rented houses in Lenin Nagar.

Bhageerathy Ramamoorthy, managing trustee of `Anandam' and a bank employee, says she was moved by the plight of many pensioners she came across. So, she decided to start a home for the aged, who go without any emotional or financial support.

Now, the organisation is constructing a home, furnished with all facilities, on 20,000 square feet at Kallikuppam, where `Anandam' volunteers recently drew rangoli that ran several kilometres.

"It is our dream project worth Rs. 1.25 crore. We have been able to complete 40 per cent of the project so far with funds from volunteers," says Ms. Ramamoorthy. The organisation needs more funds to complete the construction by April next year. For contributions, contact `Anandam,' 2, Sarangapani Street, Krishnapuram, Ambattur. Ph: 2658 0806 or 98410 60853.

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