In the outskirts of Karimnagar, Telangana, there is an orphanage, specially meant to house 38 senior citizens. These 38 senior citizens were abandoned by their families, left to die without any food and shelter. A car denting shop owner by profession has become a ray of hope for the senior citizens in Karimnagar for the past 12 years. Moved by the suffering of the neglected elderly persons who are ill-treated and compelled to live a hermit life as a result of neglect by their own family members, Veera Madhav gave home to the homeless elderly.
To start with, Veera Madhav started the Sri Veera Brahmendra Swamy old-age orphanage in the Housing Board Colony on the outskirts of Karimnagar with only four elderly citizens in 2003. Today, it is a home to a total of 38 residents. In the last few years, 78 elderly people have perished at this orphanage. The founder Veera Madhav made it certain that 50 pairs of eyes were donated, as per the deceased’s last wish and agreement.
In fact, Veera Madhav, wanted to give them all dignity and respect even during their death so he even performed the funerals of 68 people. With the approval of the deceased, the bodies of about eight people were transferred to two private medical institutes.
Veera Madhav himself has a sad past who lost his wife to cancer. Though he was very depressed, he came upon this idea of opening an orphanage for old people who are abandoned by their own kith and kin. To start this orphanage, he sold his own home in Ganeshnagar, and with that money he continued to help the elderly.
“At first, my family was against my decision to operate the orphanage because it was impossible for them to satisfy the criteria on my only income. Later, they acknowledged their concern and pledged their support for my endeavour. But I couldn’t save my wife, who was dying of cancer, and I had to sell my home and now live in a rented home,” Veera Madhav explained.
God’s grace is sufficient. Several people were now willingly stepping forward to help my orphanage by supplying medicines, foodstuffs and other necessities, he remarked. The orphanage provides all amenities, including medical care, to the elderly.
Above all, the orphanage also has a mother named Asra Sultana, who is popular with the old people. Earlier, Asra has worked as a cook and maid for the last ten years. As a mother, she cooks and serves meals to the old, and she also cajoles the inmates when they are depressed, recalling their past and living a hermit lifestyle. She even cousels and motivates them out of depression.
When the proprietors of the house refused to allow the tenants to perform the last rites of their loved ones, the orphanage came in useful, he explained, allowing them to execute the last rites with dignity. He stated that the orphanage would give shelter as well as execute the final rites with dignity and respect.
Asra too is honoured with many awards along with Veera Madhav for working and serving senior citizens at the orphanage for her contribution to the serving the poor and abandoned elderly.
“Asra has been a very humble person and has never even asked me for any compensation for her labour in the orphanage. Neither, she he has never demanded any salary for hiring as a cook. Despite her lack of culinary skills, she learned from her mother and won the hearts of the locals with her delectable delicacies.” says Veera Madhav
She committed her life to serving the inmates while receiving food, clothing, and financial aid from visitors to the orphanage. Since the age of 28, she has been fondly addressed as ‘Amma’ for the orphanage’s 38 older citizens. She assists the abandoned inmates when they are ill by supplying medicines supplied by charitable doctors, feeding them, and even assisting them in bathing and dressing.
“I’ve resolved to commit my life to serving these elderly individuals who have been abandoned by their offspring,” states Asra. I’ve decided to stay single and serve the inmates, treating them as though they were my children. Serving mankind is not a religion.”
“I enjoy working in the orphanage because the organisers assist me and my family. In addition to paying my rent, he helps with other family costs. After seeing my service to the elderly, the doctors who visit the orphanage offer me and my family free medical care at their hospitals,” she says.
Asra has also become one of the founders of the orphanage, according to philanthropist Veeramadhav, and her dedicated service has helped it become what it is today. He went on to say that she also assisted in the funeral of 116 convicts.
(Geetha is the founder of Powerfulteachers.com, an organisation that supports the elderly)
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