Kerala - Kochi   

Reaching out to senior citizens

Special CorrespondentK. Venkiteswaran

Kochi: A Bangalore-based real estate developer P.N.C. Menon, of the Sobha group, has set up a state-of-the art home at his native village, Panniyankara, near Vadakkencherry, in Palakkad district to render help to senior citizens and young widows. The Sobha Hermitage, as it is called, is built by the Sri Kurumba Trust.

In today's socio-economic scenario, jobs keep children and parents separate. Many parents find that there is no one to care for them, says Mr. Menon. The home is an attempt to offer the best in health care and quality living in the evening of one's life. It is a charitable venture and the operations of the home are heavily subsidised and totally free to the needy. The aim is to provide a new meaning to `living with dignity.'

Mr. Menon has a vision for his native place and has adopted Kizhakkencherry and Vadakkencherry panchayats to provide education to children, water supply, health care and employment. The primary health facility is already functioning and his aim is to develop it into a 70-bedded hospital with super specialty facilities. A school with modern facilities is nearing completion and will open in the coming academic year. It will admit 1,350 students. Food will be provided free to the students, to be drawn from the two panchayats. Employment will be provided to 3,000 persons in the two panchayats in the next couple of years. The Sobha group has already acquired 12 acres to set up a garment factory.

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