Vallabhbhai and his wife Hansa lived happily in a three-room apartment in Mumbai with their joint family for 25 years. However, their lives took a drastic turn when Hansa fell ill. The family, once united, began to view her as a burden and neglected her care.
Faced with this harsh reality, the couple decided to leave their family home and start afresh in a small one-room tenement in the suburbs of Mumbai.
Hansa’s story resonates deeply with more than half of the 100 million elderly people living in India today.
Abandoned by their families and with no source of income, many elderly people are forced to go to bed hungry.
However, one man decided to make a difference. Uday Modi, an ayurvedic doctor, launched a free tiffin service for the elderly in the Mira-Bhayandar municipality of Mumbai a decade ago. Today, his initiative provides meals to about 200 senior citizens daily.
“Once, an aged man came to me for some medicines for his wife, who had suffered a paralytic stroke, and I was shocked to learn that the elderly couple had been dumped by their kids and there was nobody to prepare food for them. Since then, I resolved to provide some relief to such lonely elders.”
“I started by offering free tiffin services to just two people, and over time, that number grew to 200, with many more on the waiting list. Besides this, we also organize social events for them, like the Navratri celebration planned for this year. It’s our way of bringing a little joy into their lives,” Uday shared.
In the early days of the Shravan Tiffin Seva, Dr Uday Modi’s wife prepared meals for just 11 individuals who couldn’t care for themselves. Today, the initiative has grown significantly, with four dedicated cooks preparing daily meals for nearly 200 people. Special care is taken to cater separately to diabetics and non-diabetics, and Dr Uday personally tastes the food every day to ensure its quality before distribution. He attributes his commitment to helping others to his father, who, three decades ago, provided free slippers to construction workers in their locality despite limited financial resources.
“One of my patients who came to my doorstep, an elderly man over 70 years old with a chronically ill wife at home,” recounted Dr Uday Modi. “They were poor, unable to afford even 10 rupees for a vada pav. He asked for food, and that moment deeply moved me. That’s when I decided to feed needy elders without expecting anything in return.”
The tiffin provided by Dr Modi typically includes six chapatis, a curry, dal, and rice. Sundays are extra special, with homemade desserts and farsan (a traditional Gujarati snack) added to the package. “We use two tempos and four delivery vans to transport these tiffins across the locality,” he explained. Dr Modi also works as an actor in TV serials, using his additional income along with support from family and friends to fund this initiative. “I’m always looking for new ways to help more people,” he added.
Feeding 200 people daily, primarily from personal funds, is no small feat. Dr Modi’s family consists of a college-going daughter, his son pursuing computer science, and his supportive wife, whom he calls his inspiration who stands firmly behind him. The family spends nearly ₹3 lakh every month to ensure a steady food supply for the abandoned elderly.
Despite the challenges, Dr Modi and his family remain resolute in their selfless service. “My chest swells with pride when my kids contribute small portions of their savings to this cause,” he shared. “Many people come forward to support us, and I’m confident this seva will continue.”
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