Mangalore: Seeking shelter, elderly lady approaches DC

Mangalore: Seeking shelter, elderly lady approaches DC

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Jan9, 2013: Her name Gangamma. Age around 85. She is from Puttur, issueless and was under the care of a relative at Bangalore ever since her husband’s death. She boarded a bus to Mangalore on the morning of January 4, after her caretakers said it is better she find an old age home for stay.

Thus Gangamma had reached KSRTC bus stand at Bejai at 11 in the night. For four days, she made the bus stand her home. During her stay, she knocked at the doors of several old age homes, with none responding positively Finally, she approached the Deputy Commissioner on January 8, Tuesday, through Suresh Shetty, a social activist, with her bundle of woes.

The woman told the DC that her husband Nagesh Aithal, a hotel worker had passed away 60 years ago and she was taken care of by a relative in Bangalore since the past 35 years. She says she left Bangalore after her relative and her son too passed away.  “Since then, I have been wandering  in Dharmasthala, Udupi and several places seeking shelter, but of no avail, Finally I landed in Mangalore,” she narrated her tale before the DC.

DC N Prakash contacted the helpline staff and made temporary arrangements for her stay at the night shelter for destitutes. He also assured that she would be admitted to some old age home. Even MP Nalin Kumar Kateel was present when the woman narrated her woes.

 Meanwhile,  Suresh Shetty, social activist says he brought  the woman to the DC to find what arrangements the administration has for shelterless old people.  He also says several ashrams refused to take the woman.  He even points out that some Christian institutions though were willing, hesitated as there is a chance of some organisations giving it a different colour.