A.V. Ragunathan
CUDDALORE: A Rs.
3-crore model village for accommodating 100 elders rendered destitute
by the 2004 tsunami has come up at Thamaraikulam in
Periyakanganakuppam, three km from here.
HelpAge India and NDTV have executed the project by contributing Rs.
1.75 crore and Rs 1.25 crore respectively. NDTV has mobilised a
substantial portion of the fund from its viewers.
NDTV chairman Prannoy Roy handed over the keys to the inmates in the
presence of Collector Rajendra Ratnoo and Mark Gorman of HelpAge
International, UK, on Monday. The inmates, at the rate of 25, will be
drawn from Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Vedharanyam and Kollam through
elders’ federations set up at the instance of HelpAge India. Besides
addressing the physical and emotional needs of the elders, the
eco-friendly village will have facilities such as rainwater harvesting,
wastewater recycling, solar lighting, biogas, dairy farm, greenhouse,
vegetable and herbal garden, walkers’ path and, solid and hospital
waste management.
Mr. Prannoy Roy said he was happy with the implementation the project.
Credibility was the single most important thing, so, NDTV had partnered
HelpAge India.
The project had set at naught the contention that Indians were not
generous enough when it came to charity. If they knew that the money
would be carefully spent on the socially relevant projects, they would
be quite generous. For this project, they contributed not in thousands
but in crores.
Mr. Ratnoo said a Village Administrative Officer would be deputed to
register the prospective pensioners.
Neyveli Lignite Corporation Director (Personnel) P. Babu Rao promised
to send a medical team, along with medicines, to the village every
week, and to provide infrastructure.
http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/18/stories/2007121860580700.htm
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© 2007, The Hindu.
