Tamil Nadu - Vellore   

“Parents fail to teach their wards love, care for aged”

— Photo: D. Gopalakrishnan

TOUCH OF AFFECTION: VIT University Pro-Chancellor G.V. Selvam interacting with elders at Vallalar Ramalingam Nursery and Primary School in Vellore.

VELLORE: Children growing along with their grandparents alone have the qualities of love, affection, care and compassion, G.V. Selvam, Pro-Chancellor of VIT University, said here on Wednesday.

He was speaking at the celebrations of International Day of the Aged organised by the Vallalar Mudhiyor Illam (Vallalar Old Age Home), Velappadi, at Vallalar Ramalingam Nursery and Primary School.

Mr. Selvam said that in this competitive world, parents teach their children only to study, earn and lead a happy life. But, they fail to teach them noble traits of patriotism and love and care for the parents. In many cases, children grow under the care of ‘ayahs’ or hostel wardens with no parental supervision. As a result, they do not acquire qualities of love, affection and care for the elderly.

Giving two different examples of how former students of VIT University took care of their parents, Mr. Selvam said that one student who went abroad, sent money to his parents for their care, and also invited them to stay with him for three months, making them happy. Another former student, who is also working in a foreign country, entrusted the care of his parents here to an agency, which earns through the money sent by him, and take care of his parents by appointing a nurse. “But our parents did not entrust us to the care of external agencies,” he said.

Mr. Selvam advised the aged to will their property in such a way that their children could enjoy them only after their death. They should retain a part of their earnings to take care of themselves in the event of their children neglecting them.

“We need schools, colleges and hospitals, but not old age homes, for it is our duty to take care of our parents in their old age,” he said. Mr. Selvam announced a donation of Rs.10,000 to the Vallalar Illam on the occasion of the forthcoming death anniversary of his mother, with a condition that the interest from the money should be spent on providing amenities to the home and taking care of the people staying there. He also announced the donation of a refrigerator to the home.

D. Samarasam, president of the Vallalar Illam, said the home could be said to have succeeded in achieving its goal only when it reaches a stage where there is no need to continue the home, with the children themselves taking care of their parents at their homes under the joint family system. He wanted the government to provide more facilities to the elderly.

V.T. Dheenadayalan, secretary of the home said old age homes should exist only for the aged bachelors or spinsters and aged persons without resources. R.P. Gnanavel, Vellore district secretary, Tamil Nadu Traders’ Association, said the International Day of the Aged should be celebrated in all houses.

M.G. Pandian, treasurer, Vallalar Illam, R. Pichandi, president, Vellore Corporation Shop Traders’ Association, Vellore, David and Ganesh Arunagiri, secretary, Vellore Rice Merchants’ Association, spoke.

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