Elderly citizens can relax, watch television, read books and magazines, chat and spend time with their fellow senior citizens without interruptions from anyone.
A day-care and recreation centre for senior citizens is set to come up in Mysore. Thanks to the ‘success’ of similar centres in Bangalore, Hubli-Dharwad, Gulbarga and Belgaum, the Directorate for the Welfare of Senior Citizens and Disabled has proposed the centres in the remaining districts, including Mysore.
Each district will have one such centre in the interest of senior citizens.
District Disabled Welfare Officer Balaram told The Hindu on Thursday that the day-care centre ‘Hagalu Yogakshema’ will be run by an non-governmental organisation
The centre aims to keep the senior citizens occupied. It will be equipped with a library, an activity centre, television room, indoor games and other facilities, Mr. Balaram explained.
They will be served snacks and tea once a day.
Interestingly, the centre will provide them necessary raw materials to those who wish to spend their time in activity such as painting, he said.
Seven NGOs have come forward expressing interest in running the proposed centre following the directorate’s request. “An NGO which is competent and has experience of working for the welfare of senior citizens will be considered. However, the final decision rests with the directorate,” he said.
The recreation centre is likely to be opened in the coming months as the process of finalising the NGO was in progress.
Many elderly citizens were found spending time at the bus stops, parks or in tea stalls in the absence of a suitable place to spend their post-retirement days.
