Elderly get early Christmas treat |18 December 2013

The Indian Association will be adopting a home for the elderly people as from next year, its chairperson Vijay Patel has said.

He made this announcement on Sunday during the annual Christmas lunch for the elderly hosted by the association.

The event took place at the PRG Palm residency hotel.

Joining the association’s members and elderly people for the early Christmas treat were Designated Minister Vincent Meriton, justice Durai Karunakaran and Indian high commissioner Thanglura Darlong and other invitees.

Addressing those present, Mr Patel said the members of the association will discuss and decide on the home which will be adopted.

Each year, a home for the elderly will be adopted by the association and this will include maintenance of the residence, catering to the needs of the residents and other aspects.

Mr Patel said the elderly people have contributed to a lot of things we are now enjoying thus we have to be thankful to them.

He also thanked the government for giving support to the association so that it can carry out its work.

In his speech, Minister Meriton thanked the association for all the community projects it has undertaken.

He said it is this kind of solidarity that we need for the development of our society adding that what the association has done should be a good example for other organisations to follow.

Mr Meriton called on our young leaders to appreciate the wealth of knowledge and experience that our elderly people have.

Speaking to Nation, the association’s secretary Raja Sundaram said that Christmas is a time to share and to be happy.

“We are therefore happy to share this moment with the elderly people in the country as they are a vital part of our society,” he said.

Mr Sundaram thanked Minister Meriton for the help and support he gives to the association.

The association also donates food items to help the elderly people to have healthy and nutritious breakfast meals.

Mr Sundaram said the donation is done every two months.