'Old age home' orphans in government files. photo awakening
Dialogue partner, Bagaha. An old age home was constructed in Bagaha Nagar about two decades ago for the helpless and destitute old people. During the tenure of former Municipal Council Chairman Vijay Ram, during the year 2004-05, two old age homes were built in Ward No. 31 and Shastri Nagar at a cost of about Rs 65 lakh.
Their objective was to provide safe shelter, food and a dignified life to the elderly who were rejected by society and family. Despite more than 20 years of construction, both these old age homes could not be operated till date. These government buildings stand as 'white elephants' today. If their operation had been started in time, it is possible that Sitaram Yadav's life could have been saved. Many such destitute old people could live a safe life here.
Every year during the cold season, the Municipal Council has been running temporary night shelters at the sub-divisional hospital and other places, but this year there was a delay of about one and a half months in starting the night shelter. Somehow a night shelter was started near Shastri Nagar and the service road of the hospital, but a sensitive place like the railway station was ignored.
Railway station is the place where helpless old people, beggars, retarded and destitute people spend the night. Despite this, neither a night shelter was built here nor arrangements for a bonfire. There is huge anger among the local people regarding this incident. Common people say that the city council, administration and government are equally responsible for this death. People have warned that if the system is not improved, such painful incidents will continue to happen in future also.
Death was due to cold related illness
Last Thursday night, an old man died due to cold-related illness in the Bagaha railway station premises. Sitaram Yadav, 58, who had been earning his living by begging in the station premises for years. Found dead near the ticket window. His death is not just the death of an individual, but is also a question on the system.