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| HOME FOR AGED AMBPHALLA JAMMU | | PAST & PRESENT | | Chetan Saraf | 7/17/2015 11:29:14 PM |
| At present 95 million people in India are above the age of 60, by the year 2025
nearly 80 million more will be added to this population bracket. With im
proved life expectancy rate in our country, it's estimated that as many as 8 million people are currently above the age of 80 years. Changing family value system, economic compulsions of the children, neglect and abuse has caused elders to fall through the net of family care. Shunned or abandoned by their families, many senior citizens face the prospect of a lonely death at homes for the aged, with staff having to attend to funeral proceedings. In family after family, the story is the same. Sons and daughters driving their elderly parents out of the house once the property has been bequeathed to them and possession granted. Old age homes tell sordid tales of neglect by families, the drought of care and affection faced by parents who have outlived their utility and value to their children.
As the elders are denied care, respect and dignity at their homes, Old age homes become the last resorts for such lonely and neglected elderly. One such Home for the Aged at Ambphala ,popularly known as Vridh Aashram has been rendering humble but glorious services over the years to the scores of poor ,helpless, destitute, aged and infirm members of the society, irrespective of their cast, creed, religion, region or status.
Keeping in view this very need of the hours the "Home For Aged Ambphalla Jammu" was established by a kind hearted Gandhian late Sh. Ram Nath Prabhakar in 1964 in one room and formally got it registered under J&K Registration Act under rule in 1965. After 21 years, Social Welfare Department Govt. Jammu & Kashmir adopted this "Home" in 1986 vide Govt. order no. 30 SW of 1986 and to run the said Home grant - in - aid was sanctioned as : (1). Rs. 5 per inmate per day for diet i.e. breakfast, lunch, evening tea and dinner , medicare and other necessities of life. (2). Rs. 275 per inmate for clothing, bedding once in three years to senior citizens housed there. Monthly salary of staff was fixed at Rs. 500 for Manager, Rs. 300 for Clerk - cum- Storekeeper, Rs. 250 for Chowkidar, Rs. 200 each for Peon and Cook.
Keeping in view the rise in price index the Govt. increased salaries and allowances of their employees manifold since 1986. But the brazen and very petite amount of monetary assistance to the senior citizens of Ambphalla Home to maintain its status quo, the S. W. Deptt. Of J&K never bothered to increase even a penny since last quarter of century. During the period a number of VIP's, VVIP's visiting the "Home" were apprised of deprivation faced by the administrators, the Managing Committee running the "Home" on the basis of social and voluntary services, mainly running through public contribution, donation. They, no doubt, had words of praise and appreciation for the management of the Home and wondered how the senior citizens were made to lead dignified life, despite the indifferent attitude of the Social Welfare Department and others, but did not made little efforts for improving the living standard of this class of people.
VIKLANG CHHATRA TRUST of AKHNOOR (VCT) undertook to fight for this noble cause of the Aged people of the state. Joint Secretary VCT Dr. V. S. Verma, visited the Home for Aged Ambphalla Jammu and mentioned that the change of lifestyle from traditional to liberal formation of nuclear families various conditions, age related problems are confronted by the aged people of different categories necessitating the need for the Old Age Homes for the purpose of housing the elderly people, who languish for home and hearth for multiple perception disc arable reasons. Dr. V. S. Verma send his status report regarding the plights of Vridh Ashram Ambphalla Jammu for publication in a local daily, the same was published on 10 - 04 - 2013.
Satya Pal Saraf, Founder/Organiser VCT, NGO fighting for the cause and care of Handicapped elder people of J&K state laid on application before the Honble Chief Justice and other Honble Judges of the High Court J&K Jammu along with the above said article of Dr. Verma, for treating the same as P/L, keeping in view the reality in the matter the Hon'ble Chief Justice directed the Registry to diarize the same as PIL.
By responding promptly to the petition made by the way of article the Division Branch of the Honble High Court did great justice to the most genius and human case which has kindled hopes in meeting respectable life to ill fated inmates of Vridh Ashram and also to their care providers.
The 'Home For Aged' Ambphalla Jammu which was started with one room, at present has two fledged multi storied buildings and a premier centre of J&K state having capacity to accommodate about hundred such persons having no one to look after/take care.
The 'Home' has sixty rooms of different sizes for inmates. The rooms have been constructed by the philanthropists of the city in the loving memories of their departed kith & kin. A recreation centre for non - residential senior citizens has also been set up in the Home to provide reading material and entertainment facilities. Also a Modern Kitchen, Two Dinning
Halls, Two Recreation Halls, Medical Check - Up Hall, Meeting Hall, Two Rooms for Warden, Eight Store Rooms, Washing Room, Conveniently located Ladies/Gents W.C's, both rooms.
Facilities For Inmates
Shelter, Food, Clothing other day to day necessities, preventive, curative medical services, well furnished recreation hall with T.V. and indoor games, small temples in both buildings, speakers with volume control in residential rooms are some of the facilities available to the residents of the Home. Home has arrangements for the Celebration of National and Religious Festivals. It has capacity to accommodate some deserving aged people who could be admitted after completing the requisite formalities.
Vide PIL filed by VCT regarding better care for 'Old Age Home', Hon'ble High Court in the compliance report directed the Chief Secy. To ensure Establishment of 'Old Age Homes' by the Government beginning with one in each Division of the state at Jammu & Srinagar for senior citizens who have been neglected/deserted. Hon'ble HighnCourt also directed to explore the possibility of establishing composite 'Home' for providing facilities to old age persons, physically challenged deaf & dumb and orphans beginning with one in each division of the state.
As regards the funds Grant-in-Aid 'Old Age Home' Ambphalla Jammu was getting irregular financial help from S. W. department before filing the writ. After hearing the writ, Hon'ble High Court ordered the Government to sanction and disburse Rs.5 lakh in advance for the year 2013-14, which they are sure to get it on regular basis. Sh. Sunil Sethi Senior Advocate is appearing on behalf of TRUST being its Legal Advisor. The 'Home' is getting regular medical services by the physicians, specialists with doctors for its inmates. VCT has many hopes that with this PIL our state will get many more directions for this neglected section of the society. |
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