Transformation: Daycare recreation centres for senior citizens becomes a reality in Kashmir
Wajahat Shabir
Srinagar: It is 10:00 am in the morning and Kamruddin Shah though retired from service now is getting ready. Shah is headed for ‘Ahata Waqar’ a daycare and recreation centre for the old aged people where he will meet his old age friends.
“I came into contact with many of my old friends a few days ago at Ahata Waqar,” said Shah.
‘Ahata Waqar’ is a daycare and recreation centre for senior citizen set up by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir in collaboration with District Legal Service Authority at Chanapora primary health center.
‘Ahata Waqar’ runs with the tagline of “Towards Ageing with Dignity”. It is the first-day recreation center in Jammu and Kashmir.
Interestingly, the centre has been an instant hit with the senior citizens hailing from close by locations. There of scores of old age people like Kamruddin Shah who have registered in the daycare centre, where they talk on issues ranging from politics, sports and religion.
Shah said that it is a welcome step taken by the government.
“Most of the people here are retired government employees, after retirement, these people wish to spend their time with dignity and the centre is helping us in achieving that objective,” he says.
Echoing similar views, another senior citizen, Amaan Ullah Khan also welcomed the government’s initiative.
“At the center we have this unique facility for health and recreation. We have an indoor facility available here which is lacking in our home. We come here, we talk to each other, and we share our pain and happiness. It is a good place. Away from home but we feel like home here. It is a stress-free place. And we remain busy in the activity from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm,” he said.
“Earlier there used to be joint families and grandparents’ used to play with grandchildren. Now that families have become micro families one feels lonely. Further, now everyone in the family and children’s are overburdened with studies, so it is better we spend our time here with the people who are of the same age and share the same feelings,” said Mohammed Ramzan Khan.
He added that ‘Ahata Waqar’ provides people a space to spend their leisure time with prestige.
“They sit with their friend, colleagues and share their experiences. Any mental stress they may have vanishes once one enters the place and mixes with likeminded people here,” he adds.
“This is a unique centre setup on experimental basis and this is the first of its kind in Kashmir valley,” says Ravi Pandita, an employee of the Social Welfare Department who is in-charge ‘Ahata Waqar’.
“This daycare facility has been set up here which has recreational indoor games. This also includes an OPD, where the occupants can get health checkups done. OPD runs free on Monday and Friday. In the indoor games, we have chess and carom to begin with,” he adds.
“We also make them aware of social welfare old age schemes through which they get window pensions or other pension schemes as all individuals here are not retired government employees. Also the health department has a good role to play as the occupant go through proper checkups as we have a full-fledged OPD functional here,” he adds.
Pandita said that they also provide counseling here and also all old age related diseases are treated here.
“Ahata Waqar provides Geriatric medicine concept to the patients. Here every treatment is provided except for surgery. Also, we have a library, recreation center, OPD, and pantry, so that the members registered here feel like coming here every day,” says Pandita.
Though the facility is barely few months old 83 people have registered here which include 10 females. There are people from all communities as few Sikhs and Kashmiri Pandits too have registered here and are frequent visitors to the place.
“Nine employees are currently posted at the Ahata Waqar. Three from each social welfare, health, and legal cells,” said Pandita.
On society’s response to ‘Ahata Waqar’, Pandita said that society has been very acceptable to the daycare center and even children have been dropping their parents here while they are way in their workplaces.
“The response has been good and if it continues surely such centres will spring up across the length and breadth of the valley,” he adds.
KV Correspondent
