Bandipora- 75-year-old Abdul Jabar of South Kashmir’s Shopian was living in trauma for over five years after his only son abandoned him. He would get suicidal thoughts all the time but “prayers” saved him.
“My son was working in a private company. Five years ago, he got married to a local girl. They decided to shift to New Delhi for better opportunities and left me alone,” said Jabar, a farmer. “I have lived these years of my life in a very difficult situation,” he added. Jabar’s wife divorced him 15 years ago and they had only one child.
A decade ago, the Valley of Saints was alien to the concept of “old age homes” aka senior citizen homes but sensing its need, the Union territory administration has established these homes in all ten districts of Kashmir except Pulwama. The homes have been set up in collaboration with various non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
In one such care home, in the Bandipora district, a group of elderly people are busy discussing life, politics and the erratic weather of Kashmir that has concerned almost all the people these days. These senior citizens are striking conversations with people they have no blood relationship with but they are happy for they are being heard.
All of them have accepted this new life and have made peace with it. They know this is their new home and they have to live here till their last breath. With an increase in urbanization, there has been a significant rise in the number of old age homes and to overcome the trauma, the social welfare department of Jammu and Kashmir has provided these elderly people with a full time counselor who guides them and addresses all their issues.
The homes are aimed to provide an array of facilities like shelter, food, clothing, recreational facilities, stress management, counseling, social support, legal assistance, medical assistance and other basic life facilities. The government has also set up a library for the senior citizens.
Ghulam Ahmad Sheikh, 70, has been living in his new home for the last two months. Sheikh, a resident of Bankoot, Bandipora had two daughters and a wife. However, his wife and younger daughter died at an early age. He then married his elder daughter in Gurez, some 80 kilometers away from his home.
Sheikh was left alone at home and many a times he would go to bed empty stomach. “Even though I knew how to cook, my age and health issues were making it difficult for me to live alone at home,” said Sheikh.
It was in the early nineties when he met with an accident and doctors had to amputate the fingers of both his hands and feet. Things started getting worse for him and he moved to Gurez to live with his daughter but he couldn’t save his body from extreme cold there because temperatures usually remained below freezing point.
But after moving into the old age home, Sheikh believes his life has improved.
“I can’t even wear my socks or eat properly but thanks to the government, I am living a new life here,” he added.
The facilities in all the districts of Kashmir have been set up by the Social Welfare Department under Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojna (AVYAY) scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India.
Deputy Director, Social Welfare Department, Mohammad Ashraf Akhoon, told Kashmir Observer that almost all the homes in Kashmir have between one and ten old age citizens enrolled.
“Besides, a number of citizens come every day for daily care,” Akhoon said.
He further added that even if the numbers are not too high, the department has made all the facilities for the elderly citizens and is ready to accommodate more people in future.
“This is the preparation in advance to meet any challenge. Each old age home has a capacity of accommodating around 50 individuals at a time,” Ahkoon said.
The government has provided every facility and the homes are manned with abundant staff including medical staff consisting of a trained doctor and a nurse.
“Doctors visit thrice a week and we have a nurse permanently stationed here,” said Lateef Ahmad, in charge of the citizen’s home at Bandipora.
Currently, over seven individuals are staying permanently in the home while over 20 people visit for day care.
Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh, an abandoned 73-year-old man from Manthrigam village of Bandipora says that the home has provided a “ray of hope” for him and an opportunity to live a dignified life. He had only one daughter who got married a decade ago. Later, his wife also died after a brief illness.
“Since I had no male child, there was nobody to look after me. My daughter is married in another district,” he said.
Last year in the month of December, he came to know that the district administration Bandipora has set up a home for the old age citizens. He says there was no option other than seeking the help of the government and living an honorable life.
“I rushed to the Deputy Commissioner office who referred me here. Since then I have been living here,” he added.
The government has made the process simple to get registered in the home, all you need to do is submit an aadhar card and a form, he further said.
Notably, in 2022, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by Jammu and Kashmir People’s Forum before the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, seeking directions upon the administration to establish old age homes and daycare centers across JK.
Petitioners sought the establishment of maintenance of old age tribunals as per the mandate of the senior citizens act. Following the petition, the government established old age homes in all districts of Kashmir in 2023.
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