— Photo: Ashoke Chakrabarty

FOR A CAUSE: Janardan Pati, State secretary of CPI(M) and president of Lokshakti Trust with Governor Rameswar Thakur at the inauguration of an old age home at Eranch in Cuttack district on Tuesday.

BHUBANESWAR : Orissa Governor Rameshwar Thakur on Tuesday said doctors should take some time out from their busy schedule to serve the elderly persons in the State.

Inaugurating an Old Age Home at Eranch village in Cuttack district, Mr. Thakur said, "the elderly population is increasingly becoming vulnerable as villages are now gradually shifting to cities and with joint family system being converted to nuclear family."He said people, who went to cities in search of jobs, got settled there and most of them left behind elderly parents."The ageing parents need proper care. Doctors must devote some time for this section of society," Mr. Thakur said.

Expressing concern over doctors' absence in rural areas, he said, "I know that most of the doctors skip their duty and attend nursing homes in cities. The elderly people as well as villagers fail to get the service which they deserve."Established by Lokshakti Trust, the Old Age Home would initially give accommodation to 10 persons.

Ambitious plans

"We have erected a building on 2000 sq ft area. We plan to construct a bigger complex on 15,000 sq ft area. On completion, the premises would have a dispensary and computer centre for poor students.

The home will accommodate 100 persons," chairman of Lokshakti Trust and State secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist) Janardan Pati said.

He said eight per cent of India's population is above 60 years of age.

"The number is likely to increase in coming years. The younger generation must make efforts to address the problems facing old men and women," Mr. Pati said.

Several labour unions had contributed funds for the setting up of the Home, he said.

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