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Vashi2Panvel.Com: Navi Mumbai: February 21: Navi Mumbai doesn’t boast of a sizeable senior citizen population, yet there are quite a few old age homes in and around the city. The serene milieu and the tranquillity abound is a primary reason for these ashrams to start the service here. Vashi2Panvel.Com attempts to give you a lowdown about these ashrams. 1) Paramshanti Dham Vridhashram
Situated in the picturesque location at Taloja , this Ashram was built by Abbanand Giri Mahara on 15th March 1988. The plot was donated by Saraswati Bai Kadam for constructing a temple. Giri Maharaj was touched by the plight of some senior citizens. Realizing service to humanity as service to god, Giri Maharaj constructed the Ashram for the senior citizens.

Capacity:
The total capacity of this Ashram is 100 but right now there are 75 inmates. This Ashram was started off from three old inmates and today has 14 rooms with common a dining hall.

Facility And Charges:
There are all kinds of facilities provided to inmates like food, clothes, usefulthings etc. At the entrance of the Ashram is a small temple where the inmates spend time singing Bhajans. Yoga classes are conducted once in a week by Yogi Maharaj. Medical check ups for the inmates are done thrice a week.
All the facilities can be availed free of cost.

Visiting Time:
Relatives or guest can be allowed only on Sundays.

Inmates speak…
“I like the atmosphere here,”says Dwarkabai Shankar Jadhav (80) “I took the decision to come here when it became unbearable for me to face the daily tortures of her daughter-in-law. I have no desire of going back though I miss my grand children.”
B. B. Kambale (90) has three sons. “But they are all busy with their work and have no time for me. But today even if they come back to take me, I won’t go with them as this place has become my home,” he smiles. “I truly admire the social workers in the Ashram. It is really touching to see how they take care of us. They are all very close to me.”

2) Narmada Niketan
Another old age home is Narmada Niketan at Belapur which was constructed on 1984 and is being run by Narmada Ben Charitable Trust. The peculiarity of this Ashram is that all the senior citizens carry out their daily chores on their own.

Capacity:
There are around 100 people staying together. This Ashram is not for handicap people above 65 years old. They allow only such old people who have their relatives but they don’t want to keep them. The Ashram give permission to stay only for three months if inmates want to stay more days then they have to take permission from trustee.

Facility And charges:
The Charges of this ashram is Rs 3500 for a single room. If the room is shared, the cost borne by an individual is 2500. Bed, table, fan, chair etc are provided by the trust personal stuffs and toiletries are to brought by the inmate.

Visting Time:
Visitors can visit everyday but only between 10a.m to 11:15 a.m
Mr Vaidya,
Narmada Niketan Ashram,
Sector 9,
C.B.D Belapur.

Inmates Speak:
Mr Mehta (65) says, “my children are ready to keep me but it is my own decision to stay here. They come once in a week to meet me and I am really happy to stay here.”

3) Jan kalyan Seva Ashram:
Situated at Panvel, a special thing about this Ashram is that it provides shelter to both senior citizen as well as children. For children between 8 to 15years old there is a Bal Mandir, in the same complex.

Capacity:
The Ashram has a capacity for as many as 100 inmates out of which 90 have been occupied.

Facility and Charges:
Monthly charge for single room for single inmate is Rs 3500 and no relatives are allowed. For guest there is a guest room. Facilities like food and personal stuffs are provided by Ashram.
Opinion Of Inmates:
Kmalabai Jadhav(65) says, “I like to stay here. It’s like my home.”

Visiting Time:
Visitors are allowed at any time. Donors are also welcome. Contact-
Mr Hariom,
Jankalyan Vridhaashram,
Panvel

4) Matrusadan Ashram:
Situated in Nerul the Ashram is run by Mrs Maya Bhatiya, trustee. The ashram is only for women above 50 years of age.

Capacity:
The capacity of this Ashram is around 50 but now there are around 48 inmates staying here.

Facility And Charges:
All kinds of amenities are provided to the inmates. The charge for each inmate is Rs.1500 per month.

Visiting Time:
Guests are not generally encouraged but if relatives want to meet the inmates they allow them to meet only on Saturdays.

Inmates Speak:
Mrs Rama Pal(68) feels, “I don’t feel like going back home. The environment here is very cordial.”

5) Sharan Ashram
One of the most luxurious ashrams, it’s run by trust called Society for The Rehablitation.

Capacity:
The Ashram has the capacity for 50 while it houses 47 right now.

Facility And Charges:
The 65-members home is run primarily by donations from Navi Mumbai colleges like Modern, I.C.L and Father Agnel Engineering College, besides others. Besides, women are provided with sewing machines to work on. The charges is around Rs.3500,2500.2000 per month for single person according to facilities.

Visiting Time:
Visitors can come to meet only on Sunday.
Mr Nayak
Sharan Ashram
Near I.C.L College,
Vashi

Opinion Of Inmates:
Rajesh Agnihotri (68) says, “We get all kinds of facilities which we never get in our homes. All the inmates are enjoying their own life.”

By Uma Waghamare