Elders’ day out with Ethiraj College youngsters

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About 150 senior citizens from old age homes across the city enjoyed a full day interacting with young students, thanks to an initiative by the Ethiraj College for Women.

In a move to create awareness among youngsters about the welfare of senior citizens, the college organised a programme called “Thatha Patti Vaanga” along with the Indiram Social Trust at its premises on Saturday.

The event saw over 450 students from 16 different colleges interacting with elderly men and women, most of them abandoned by their own wards.

“This was our simple effort to stop the mushrooming of old age homes in the city and to send out the message about caring for parents and in-laws to our students,” said Dr Padmini Viswanathan, NSS programme coordinator of the college.

Apart from letting elders have a quality time with students, the event also included segments such as free medical check-ups by assistant professor at Kilpauk Medical College, Dr Vinod, and his team followed by legal counselling to a few elders.

Delivering a special address, Madras University’s Dr Thiruvasagam, who presided over the event, said, “It felt better attending such an interactive event with a social cause than doing research work.”