On International Day for Senior Citizens this year, a Salt Lake-based charitable trust announced an initiative to train unemployed youths to become geriatric caregivers.
Naba Bangla Parishad made the announcements at an AC Block cafe, along with an adda on ageing that drew participation from eminent residents.
“Our project will provide structured training, certification, and placement for unemployed undergraduate and graduate youth, as well as untrained caregivers in the unorganised sector. The course will equip them to serve as geriatric caregivers in home-based and institutional settings,” said Anindya Chatterjee of Naba Bangla Parishad.
The initiative will be in collaboration with the Geriatric Society of India, West Bengal chapter, and its chairman, Dr Arunangshu Talukdar, said: “We have agreed to a proposal for jointly launching a project on geriatric care with Naba Bangla Parishad. Logistic support will be provided by them and technical expertise by us. In Calcutta, 15 per cent of the population is elderly. Such residents who live alone need reliable and affordable caregivers.”
Thereafter it was over to a celebrity adda. Opening the discussion, writer Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay remarked: “I often forget that I am old, as I prefer to live in the present. It is common for senior citizens to reminisce about the past while overlooking the present. Ageing is a natural phenomenon, but we should remain open to changes over time and strive to stay updated.”
Amonk with students at Bidhannagar Ramkrishna Vivekananda Kendra in DD Block.
Director Goutam Ghose discussed how rapid technological advancements have brought about revolutionary changes, fostering profound mental and behavioural shifts. “We should keep pace with developments but society must also value the wisdom and experience of older individuals, ensuring that they live with respect and dignity.”
Former Hidco chairman Debashis Sen said the elderly could play an important role in social reformation to which Talukdar said that with increasing life expectancy, the goal was to provide holistic care and treatment so the elderly could lead healthy, happy, and dignified lives. “There are specialists for different medical needs but geriatric medicine is needed as this age group faces several challenges in daily activities, alongside health ailments,” he said.
Talukdar added that a well-equipped geriatric care unit with limited capacity — the first of its kind in east India — had opened at Calcutta Medical College under the Geriatric Society (West Bengal chapter).
Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Kunal Sengupta advised residents to stay active. “Engage in daily physical exercise such as yoga or walking to maintain fitness, but avoid taking calcium or vitamin D supplements without proper tests. To prevent surgeries, keep your bones strong, maintain balance, and walk for 45 minutes daily. Strong bones mean fewer falls, fewer fractures, and fewer operations.”
Cardiologist Dr Parthasarathi Bandyopadhyay lauded the initiative. “If unemployed youths are trained in geriatric care, gaps in elderly care can be addressed,” he said.
Also present were Dr Himadri Das, Prof Urmila Sen and members of Salt Lake Senior Citizens Association.
Jubilee plans
At the golden jubilee celebrations of Bidhannagar Ramkrishna Vivekananda Kendra in DD Block, attendees spoke of their humble beginnings and grand future plans but also discussed the social degeneration that was resulting in crimes like the one at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
“Please help develop a roadmap to address this challenging situation,” Debashis Sen, former chairman of Hidco and president of the golden jubilee committee, asked of the monks who were their guests. He also elaborated on their year-long jubilee programmes, including the installation of a Ramkrishna statue at DD Island and renaming it in his honour.
Maharaj Jnanalokananda conducted an interactive session with students on abstinence, values, and character-building. “Reflect each morning on your character and assess whether you live as human or beast. To build a strong character, have courage in mind, empathy at heart, and expand your capacity for love,” he said, exemplifying the RG Kar case as a lack of abstinence and humanity. “Instead, it was marked by cruelty and violence leading to barbaric acts. Abstinence can be achieved through co-ordination of heart, brain, and actions.”
Swami Suparnananda asked society to reflect on the teachings of Ramakrishna, Sarada, and Vivekananda to overcome unrest and relaunched the centre’s website.
Stutananda Maharaj performed devotional music and Chanchal De, secretary of the institute, recalled how 50 years ago his father Dr Hemendra Chandra De and founder president Kalidas Sarkar established this Mission at BA 87. “As part of our celebrations, we have also installed a bronze statue of Sister Nivedita in Wimbledon at the site where she had first met Swami Vivekananda in 1895,” he said.
The event was anchored by Urmila Sen, president of the centre.
