Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool   

Keeping hopes alive

Special Correspondent

The old-age home, run on a no profit-no loss basis, launches full-fledged services

KURNOOL: Joint family system is crumbling. Now, old-age homes are coming to the rescue of elderly citizens in the twilight of their lives.

Sri Adisankaracharya Old-age Home set up in 1999 by a group philanthropists on the outskirts of the city has started full-fledged services.

The building, constructed at a cost of Rs 80 lakhs, has 22 rooms and two dormitories. Treasurer and founder of the Home Durga Ramachandraiah said the organization was running the home on no profit-no loss basis. Fifteen per cent of inmates were offered free stay and food while an amount of Rs. 1,000 each was collected from the rest.

Mr. Ramachandraiah said only those above 58 years were admitted to the home. The home incurred an expenditure of Rs. 50,000 per month on 64 inmates. No deposit was collected from the applicants.

He said the applicants were admitted to the home only after thoroughly inquiring the family conditions. Many decide in a fit of emotion to join the home and leave after some time.

If their children stay in the city, the home officials try to convince them to take care of the elderly.

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