Although I am now 76 years old, I have been working for the cause of silvers well before I became one myself. It is, therefore, with great pride that I say that I am president of the Senior Citizens’ Society at Freedom Fighters Enclave at Neb Sarai, New Delhi.

I put down roots in Delhi in 1964, where I ran my family’s typewriter business along with my brother. After I got married, I bought a house in Sheikh Sarai and settled there. Although busy with work during the 10 years I lived there, I actively worked with the Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA) of our colony and was also associated with NGOs such as Healthy Ageing India and Age-Care India. Healthy Ageing India was then headed by Dr Prashun Chatterjee from AIIMS, who promoted the concept of ageing and organised senior citizens’ runs. I will always remember our discussions on how to improve the lives of silvers.

In 1998, my family and I shifted to Fighters Enclave in Neb Sarai, where it all started with HelpAge India donating a physiotherapy machine to our housing society. We had 200-odd silver members and we eventually registered as an NGO, called the Senior Citizens’ Society. Fortunately for us, the RWA gave us some space in a nearby park, where we regularly meet, share and care, and live a happy and active life.

Every morning, we exercise, play badminton and take walks. Evenings are spent playing cards, carom and other games at the centre. On the last day of every month, we celebrate birthdays, for which the families of all the members are invited. To break the monotony of our daily routine, we also organise annual vacations.

Our society informally mediates and counsels members as and when required, as we did for one of our members who found himself in a sticky situation with his son. Our society members talked to his family and helped them sort out their differences peacefully.

We also invite medical and other experts to speak on topics such as health and wellbeing, women’s issues, bridging the generation gap, family ties, and more. To facilitate our members’ physical well-being, we run a physiotherapy and homeopathy centre at nominal charges. Next, we plan to collect donations to expand our space to accommodate more people.

Our society participates in marathons organised by the Delhi government on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15 June every year. Thanks to our long and fruitful association with HelpAge India, the latter made a video of our extensive work and uploaded it on their site. This has made us a model for other societies.

Apart from our own society, I am associated with many other NGOs that are committed to elders and am an executive member of some old-age homes too. I like to stay active and disciplined. My son runs a computer business and I visit his office at Nehru Place daily. I spend some time there and browse the Internet before I return to the Senior Citizens’ Society for my work.

While helping silvers keep healthy and happy is immensely rewarding, I think our crowning achievement as a society came when youngsters in our housing colony first approached us, asking for help and advice on how to keep active and add more colour to their lives!

—Suresh Kumar Palta, New Delhi

Photo courtesy: S K Palta
Featured in Harmony — Celebrate Age Magazine
October 2017