Tucked at the end of a narrow lane is a quaint little house. Once inside the house, a small blackboard rested against the wall displays the various programmes lined up for the week. In one of the rooms, there is a very serious game of bridge in progress and in another a friendly game of carom. Amidst all the indoor games, there is a group of people eagerly discussing a variety of topics ranging from news to the benefits of yoga. Occasionally one can hear snippets of a lecture on spirituality emanating from another room. It is just another regular evening at Kshemaya, an interactive centre for the senior citizens.
The founder Saraswati Turlapati insists on calling it an interactive centre instead of a day care centre and says, “Ever since we have started in 2009, it is the members who have taken the responsibilities of generating activities.” In the span of a year, the centre has initiated weekly classes on yoga and meditation, occasional field trips and guests lectures. In fact, extending services to the under privileged section of senior citizen is also in the offing. “Most of their children are living abroad or go out for work and these elderly parents come here to spend time and share their experiences to get over their loneliness,” adds Saraswati who has done extensive research on social work and aging.
One such person is Venkat Rao. After spending a lifetime in the service industry, he retired in 2000. Post retirement, he kept himself busy and when he saw an advertisement looking for a manager for an interactive centre, he applied immediately. “I come daily at 9 in the morning and usually the last one to leave in the evening. It feels like I am back in college as I sometimes carry my lunch box with me,” he laughs. As he lists the group of activities that the centre has done in the past he warns, “If not anything, I just talk to the members. I can talk for hours.”
With an addition to a one time registration fee of Rs. 100, the members have volunteered to pay Rs. 30 on a monthly basis. “It is a wrong notion that people after retirement feels useless. In fact, it is after retirement that one can enjoy the fruits of their labour. I didn't want to spend the rest of my life glued to a television set so I come here and feel refreshed,” says retired banker K. Srinivas, in between his carom games.
Retired professor L. Srinivas Rao says, “We look forward to the lectures and share our problems with one another. We are still active and full of ideas.” He jokingly points out at his friend and says, “He was with his children abroad for six months. He missed out on a lot of fun.”
Over 90 members now, this interactive centre encourages discussions on all issues. The ideas are new and the enthusiasm is infectious. In L. Srinivas Rao's words, “We might be retired but we are full of ideas and now we want to share our experience with others.”
