In our ancient society, old people used to be highly respected as prudent persons. People used to take their advice and guidance with respect to any social matters. But with the advent of modern materialistic social system, the entire scenario has changed. Old age is looked upon in Indian society as a curse in itself nowadays. In the present days of cut-throat competition it so happens that the young people are mostly out of the city or may be country in order to prosper and succeed in career. In such cases their elderly parents are left behind to fend for themselves in health and sickness. Yet this is a much better scenario where both the parents are alive and can look after themselves. In some cases where one of the parents is alive and the other is dead, in that case it becomes too difficult for the surviving parent to remain completely alone. Sometimes it also happens that the children transfers the property of their old parents in their names and then leave their parents to some old age home. These are the more pathetic cases where the elderly people do not want to leave their home and are ruthlessly been forced to evacuate. Thus came some NGO in India who are working towards settling the helpless senior citizens in a respectable life. These NGOs are working relentlessly in taking care of the old people who do not have any financial backing as well. The main problem is that when we are young and vibrant we tend to forget about the old people in our lives who have brought us in this world and made us eligible to fit in it. If our parents could sacrifice everything to bring us up why cant we extend an understanding and generous hand towards them when they lose their physical strength and vigour? In fact this is a very difficult question with very few and almost no answer at all. If the children are out of the town that is still a much bearable scenario. They are neither of any help nor of any hindrance. But there are many old people who lose their home to their own children. It is for them that the NGOs for senior citizens have actually started working by creating old age homes which are paying as well as honorary. They try to engage these people in some work as well by which they can feel themselves of any use to the society and thereby not only stand on their own feet once again but also lead a respectable life. We need to be aware of such NGOs and extend all our moral support to them in whatever way we can. Supportive gestures from all the cross sections of the society is something which would help build trust in India on the genuine NGOs who are working sincerely for a noble cause ie . In fact, we all know that the future is built on the pillar of the past. Hence if we fail to respect our past we would also fail in some way or other an ideal future which can make us proud. We should treat or help treat old people with all humility and due respect keeping in mind that they are our past and future.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About the Author:
Ramnath Memorial Trust in Meerut is working towards betterment of poor children in india.