CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

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 What is Social Responsibility?
Social responsibility is an ethical ideology or theory that an entity, be it an organization
or individual, has an obligation to act to benefit society at large. This responsibility can
be passive, by avoiding engaging in socially harmful acts, or active, by performing
activities that directly advance social goals.

Businesses can use ethical decision making to secure their businesses by making
decisions that allow for government agencies to minimize their involvement with the
corporation. For instance if a company is proactive and follows the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines for emissions on dangerous
pollutants and even goes an extra step to get involved in the community and address
those concerns that the public might have; they would be less likely to have the EPA
investigate them for environmental concerns. “A significant element of current thinking
about privacy, however, stresses "self-regulation" rather than market or government
mechanisms for protecting personal information” (Swire , 1997) Most rules and
regulations are formed due to public outcry, if there is not outcry there often will be
limited regulation.
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Critics argue that Corporate social responsibility (CSR) distracts from the fundamental
economic role of businesses; others argue that it is nothing more than superficial
window-dressing; others argue that it is an attempt to pre-empt the role of governments as
a watchdog over powerful multinational corporations.

What is Corporate Social Responsibility?

Corporate social responsibility (CSR), also known as corporate responsibility ,

corporate citizenship, responsible business, sustainable responsible business (SRB),
or corporate social performance, is a form of corporate self - regulation integrated
into a business model . Ideally , CSR policy would function as a built-in , self-
regulating mechanism whereby business would monitor and ensure its adherence to
law, ethical standards, and international norms. Business would embrace
responsibility for the impact of their activities on the environment, consumers,
employees, communities, stakeholders and all other members of the public sphere.
Furthermore , business would proactively promote the public interest by
encouraging community growth and development, and voluntarily eliminating
practices that harm the public sphere, regardless of legality. Essentially, CSR is the
deliberate inclusion of public interest into corporate decision-making , and the
honoring of a triple bottom line: People , Planet , Profit.

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The practice of CSR is subject to much debate and criticism. Proponents argue that
there is a strong business case for CSR, in that corporations benefit in multiple
ways by operating with a perspective broader and longer than their own
immediate , short-term profits . Critics argue that CSR distracts from the
fundamental economic role of businesses; others argue that It is nothing more than
superficial window-dressing ; others yet argue that it is an attempt to pre-empt the
role of governments as a watchdog over powerful multinational corporations .
Corporate Social Responsibility has been redefined throughout the years. However , it
essentially is titled to aid to an organization's mission as well as a guide to what
the company stands for and will uphold to its consumers. Development Business
ethics is one of the forms of applied ethics that examines ethical principles and
moral or ethical problems that can arise in a business environment . In the
increasingly conscience-focused marketplaces of the 21st century , the demand for
more ethical business processes and actions (known as ethicism) is increasing.
Simultaneously , pressure is applied on industry to improve business ethics through
new public initiatives and laws (e.g. higher UK road tax for higher-emission vehicles).
Business ethics can be both a normative and a descriptive discipline . As a
corporate practice and a career specialization , the field is primarily normative . In
academia, descriptive approaches are also taken . The range and quantity of business
ethical issues reflects the degree to which business is perceived to be at odds
with non-economic social values . Historically, interest in business ethics
accelerated dramatically during the 1980s and 1990s, both within major
corporations and within academia . For example , today most major corporate
websites lay emphasis on commitment to promoting non-economic social values
under a variety of headings (e.g. ethics codes, social charters). In some cases ,
corporations have re-branded their core values in the light of business ethical
considerations (e.g. BP’s “beyond petroleum “environmental tilt). The term CSR came
in to common use in the early 1970s , after many multinational corporations
formed , although it was seldom abbreviated . The term stakeholder , meaning those
on whom an organization's activities have an impact , was used to describe
corporate owners beyond shareholders as a result of an influential book by R
Freeman in 1984.

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Whilst there is no recognized standard for CSR , public sector organizations (the
United Nations for example) adhere to the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) . It is widely
accepted that CSR adheres to similar principles but with no formal act of
legislation. The UN has developed the Principles for Responsible Investment as
guidelines for investing entities .

Objectives of the Social Responsibility Project

Social Responsibility Objectives-

• To strengthen existing networks -to share experiences - and create new ones.

• To try to be part of solutions, instead of acting individually in diagnosing and

criticising reality without proposing anything to try to improve it.

• To train graduates who not only achieve academic excellence, but are also
socially committed.
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People might or might not be responsible in their actions with regards to the world
around us. Given that universities are made up of people, University Social
Responsibility is simply a matter of the commitment demonstrated by those of us who
comprise the university.

Objectives of the project-

• To study the old age problems and difficulties.

• To study the environment of an old age home

• To provide help to old aged people in such organisation.

• To make efforts towards improving such organisations

Introduction to the Ngo

Cleta’s home is a unit of St.Augustine Social Service Society. It is situated in a sprawling

capmus of seven acres of land between Christ University and St John’s Medical College
Hospital, on the 4th cross of Thaverekere road(off Hosur Road) Bangalore 95

The home was started in 1992 in honour of Mother Cleta who was born in germany in
1901. She joined the order of Augustinian Sisters founded in Germany in 1838. After
serving congregation and the church for many years with devotion and commitment, she
became the Superior General of the Order, and held that position from 1963-1972. It was
on her initiative that the Congregation extended its activities to India in 1962. Her
visionary service to humanity, particularly to the aged, and the needy is our inspiration
even today.

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After completing her task assigned to her here on Earth, Mother Cleta left her heavenly
home on the 10th May 1987. It is in memory of her that we celebrate our Home Day every
year on 10th May.

The congregation has establishments in Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Assam and
Gujarat. In these places we give our services in dispensaries, schools, home for the aged,
rehabilitation centres for the AIDS patients, leprosy patients, social activities and related
fields.

Their OBJECTIVE is to keep aloft Christ’s compassionate love and to extend that love
and charity to those whom we are called to serve.

Their GOAL is to care and upliftment of the poor, especially those rejected and uncared
for by the society.

Their CHARISM is “moved by the compassionate love of God we respond to the signs of
the time.”

CLETA’S HOME now has accommadation for 90 persons. It is open to all senior citizens
irrespective of caste, creed or religion. The rooms are available for single and double
occupancy and are provided with attached bathrooms, and other normal facilities.
Minimum furniture like bed and mattress, chair, writing table and ward robe are in the
rooms. Residents can with management’s permission bring in limited items of their own
furniture. Pillows, bed linen, electric bulbs, and similar items will have to be taken care
by the residents.

There is a sister-in-charge to look after the daily administrative affairs of the home. A
large enough staff of girls is provided to take care of the normal needs of the residents.
Their services are usually confined to general cleaning, bringing of hot water for bath,
and so on. There are chapels where daily liturgical services and Sunday services are
conductes regularly.

As the Home’s small contribution to the “Greening of the Earth” solar enerhy is used for
supplying hot water. Also, there is arrangement for rain water harvesting.

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RULES FOR RESIDENCE

1) Men above 70 years, and women above 70 years are eligible to apply for residence in
the Home. Applicants will have to appear for an interview before a management
group, and are required to submit the following documents.
a) Amedical certificate from the family doctor or a recognised medical practitioner
about his/her present state of health.
b) Aletter of introduction from two respectable persons, acceptable to the sister-in-
charge.
c) A passport size phtoto.
2) Management’s decision about the acceptance or otherwise of an applicant for
residence is final.
3) Persons who are accepted as residents will have no tenancy or occupancy rights.
4) Residents should take special care of hteir personal belongings like cash, jewellery.
5) Residents must strictly observe the rules and regulations of the Home and must try to
live as a harmonious community. Particular care should be taken to observe proper
decorum and discreet silence when Mass or other ritual and liturgical services are
conducted in the Chapel.
6) If at any time resident’s conduct is found to be contray to established discipline and
practices of the home, or causing disturbance or undesirable annoyance to other
residents, such residents will be asked to leave the home. They will be given one
month’s time to leave the home. In these matters decision taken by sister-in-charge, in
consultation with local superior and the provincal superior shall be final.
7) Wholesome and nutritious food will be provided. This will be served in the dining
hall at the following timings.
a) Bed coffee:6 am (those who do not want to get up early morning can leave their
thermos flask outside their rooms. Staff girls will leave coffee in the flask.)
b) Breakfast:7.30 am-8.30am
c) Mid-morning coffee/tea:10.00am
d) Lunch:4.00 pm
e) Dinner:7 pm

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 • Those who cannot or do not want to go to dinning hall, can make special
arrangements with the sister-in-charge to have their meals sent to their rooms.
At present, the charges for their service are Rs.500/- month
• If a resident is not taking meal here, or is planning to stay out for the night, the
sister-in-charge should be given prior information.
• Boiled water for drinking purposes will be supplied to each room at about
4pm. Residents should leave a suitable flask outside their rooms, and these
will be filled up by the staff girls.

1) If a resident requires constant/special attention the resident should make private

arrangements to have a full time attendant whose costs will have to be met by the
resident. Prior permission of the sister-in-charge should be taken for such
arrangements, it should be understood that the attendants so engaged will have to
strictly follow the rules and regulations of the home.
2) Every resident is responsible for the cleanliness of his/her living room, and
surroundings. General cleaning of the rooms and toilets will be done by the staff girls
according to the schedule laid down by the sister-in-charge.
3) No change or alteration in the rooms is permitted. In case a resident feels the need for
any change. It should be discussed with the sister-in-charge. Her decision in the
matter will be final.
a) Requests for repair works in the room should be entered in the complaint book
kept in the telephone room.
b) No cooking is permitted in the rooms.
c) Residents will be held responsible for the damage to the room, furniture or
fittings.
d) In normal circumstances, a room once allotted to a resident can not be exchanged.
e) If any case one wishes to change to another room with better facilities he/she will
be charged with additional amount fixed for the new room.
4) Laundry service is provided by the home.
5) A visiting doctor’s services are available.

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6) A physiotherapist’s services are available in the home. This service will have to be
paid for by the resident.
7) A sales man from a near by medical shop comes to the home twice a week, or more
frequently, y=takes orders from the residents and delivers the medicines directly to
them. Residents will have to deal directly with the sales man and make payments.
8) Arrangements can be made through the sister-in-charge for a pathologist/ technician
to come to the home to take blood, urine samples for analysis prescribed by the
doctor. Charges for such work will have to be paid by the residents directly to the
technician when he brings the analysis report.

9) Payments regarding accommodation and food.

a) Each resident will be charged Rs. 5000/- per month to cover food, staff services
and general maintenance. This will have to be paid before the 10th of every month.
Those who fall in arrears for more then three months consecutively will be asked
to leave the home.
b) Depending on the cost of living and similar factors, management will have the
freedom to review and change these charges at regular intervals.
10) Visiting hours
a) Visit to the home is restricted to the following hours. .

Morning: 8.00am-12noon

Evening: 4.00pm-6.00pm

Visitors must leave the room by 7.oo pm.

b) Residents who go out must return by 7.oo pm. Those wanting to attend late night
functions must make arrangements to stay out for night.
11) Discipline of the home
a) Residents are expected to observe silence between 1.30 pm-4.00 pm, so that those
who want to relax/sleep during this time are not disturned.
b) Lights out time is generally 10.30 pm. Residents should take care to see that
lights, fans and TV are switched off when not in use.

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12) Management will have absolute freedom to review, amend, delete from or add to
these rules and regulations as when necessary.

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 CHAPTER II
LEARNING OUTCOMES

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This project has helped us to learn many things about our social responsibility towards
the society.

The NGO chosen by us has helped us to realize the lives at Old Age homes and the
problems faced over there and also problems faced at the old age.

We got to learn about many reasons as to why people go to old age homes. Majority of
the people there were because their kids have settled abroad or in different parts of India.

We even learnt many things by sharing their past experiences and had discussions on
many topics. It was also inspiring to talk with many people and share their great
achievements.

Personal Experience

VaibhavSanwaria
(1011153)
We got this great opportunity of social responsibility project on the first week of
December by our academic co-ordinator, Mr. Saklesh S.N. on behalf of our University.
We were asked to form groups of four and work for an NGO for 25 hours.

We formed our group consisting Ankur, Anand, Raj and myself.

We soon started to search for an NGO by various sources, like-

Friends, Family, Online Search, Just Dail. Etc.

We had decided to work for an Old age home because it would be a privilege to work for
our seniors and make their last days glorious and not lonely.

91122

At last after searching for many Old age home’s we got to know about

91122

Cletas Home For Aged in Koramangala, Bangalore from my friend who

had already worked for that NGO.
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The first day when we visited the place, we were very delighted, the area was very
beautiful and spacious. It had two big buildings and a garden, church, and lots of open
area for people to walk in the evening.

The main building consisted of housing for the old age people and had three floors with
over 50 rooms and a small church which had Sunday mass from 7:30am, which some old
people attended on a voluntary basis who were physically capable.

The other building consisted the housing for all the sisters, and a separate church. There
was also a Kindergarten school for underprivileged children.

On the first day, we met Sister Leena, who took us around the main building, introducing
us to all the people over there. We went to each room greeting people and assuring them
that we will be coming regularly far a week and are there for any help needed.

First we met a lady, named Supriya who was very delighted to see us. She asked us
where did we come from, and which course are we studying and was very delighted to
learn that we were doing BBM from Christ University as even her nephew had studied
from Christ, and now working in New Delhi as a senior executive in a Financial firm.

After that we met an uncle who was a teacher having 40 years of teaching experience. He
used to teach Physics, Chemistry and Maths in St. Josephs College, Bangalore and was
very famous in his times. He was unable to walk and move around and hence was
confined to his room in the day, and in the evening he used to read sitting outside in the
lobby.

Then we met with a 77 year old Shirley Barret, who spent her entire life teaching children
in a town in Jharkhand. She along with her husband started Modern English School in
Jamshedpur with the aim of educating the young. The husband & wife duo came to
Bangalore in the 1990's as her son got transferred as a welding inspector. In 1993 her
husband succumbed to cancer and last year her son too expired, leaving her with no
support system.

Her daughter-in-law moved away to live life separately saying that she was young and
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didn't want an added burden of an aging mother-in-law. Shirley found shelter under the
roof of Cletas home for aged.

We shared her grief with her. She started to cry when she told us her story. We were heart
broken and brought coffee for her. She calmed down a bit after that. She shared some
instances where she still misses her husband and son and told us how cruel her daughter-
in-law was as she never let her meet her grandson and never came to meet her too.

We then met a lady who was very kind, and wanted us all to sing a song. Later she also
sung a melodious carol for us and it was beautiful. Her voice was very sweet.

There were several other people whom we met but we could talk to only a few because of
language barrier and also physical barriers.

As we left the main building and went toward the lawn, we met two uncles, Mr Jacob and
a Doctor uncle who were sitting and chatting there.

We learnt that they regularly sit there from around 4:30pm to 5:30pm.

Mr Jacob was from Calcutta, and spent 20 years over there while working. He could not
walk and travelled in a wheelchair. His son stayed in America and he missed them very
much.

The doctor was from Kerala and loved reading books. He was very philosophical in his
talks and loved debating.

We had a long chat with them relating to current affairs, and spent some quality time.

On the next day, i.e. Sunday, we went there in the morning at 9 am. We met all the
people and greeted them. We met a lady who was the oldest member over there and is
going to turn 100 this year.

It was a treat to meet her since she still was very lively and also walked around the lobby
comfortably.

We also met Mr.Chatterjee who was in army for 40 years. He had done engineering, and
also MBA in two subjects. He had heart problem and had a pacemaker inserted, for

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which he visited the doctor regularly. He had made the old lady his mother and they both
lived in adjacent rooms.

It was very emotional to talk with him as he continuously pointed out that there has
nothing been spoken about the mental state of old people and their problems, the
suffocation faced by them.

He continuously pleaded us to find a solution to their problems and suggest some way by
which they can make their lives lively again.

Later in the evening we met Mr. Jacob and the doctor again. We had a nice conversation
about the current affairs topics and also on the widespread corruption. The doctor shared
with us his vies and showed us that how we all are a part of the corruption and practicing
it in day to day activities without even realizing so.

Net day, we went to meet another lady whose son and grandson had come. And the
following day we also learnt from her that she had 3 sons, one was working for Lufthansa
airways and other was a successful entrepreneur. And also her granddaughter was a high
post employee in Wipro.

She also said that how members of her family are staying in different parts of the world
and she misses them.

We also met the old lady and Mr.Chatterjee again. The said that it is a treat to know that
people come for them and they have hold worth.

We went back to meet Mr. Jacob and the doctor. We again had a discussion on how
everyone in this world is selfish and how there is nothing called an unselfish deed.

We also met Mr.Chatterjee, who we learnt was a colonel, and also the oldest lady.

We learnt that she will be turning 100 years this 6th of June, and her sons might take her
back home for the celebration as previous year.

On the other days we mainly talked with the doctor and Jacob uncle only.

Mr.Jacob liked my mobile phone and said that he wanted to get a similar one with
QWERTY keypad which would enable him to type messages faster. He also enquired
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about new sim card plans and lifetime validity plans, so that he could give his old mobile
to his assistant.

later when we went to collect our certificates I learnt that he had bought nokia E63 and
also invited me come one day to teach him how to operate it and all its features.

The days at the NGO went on like this and everyday we had to just talk with people and
remove their loneliness.

It was a very good experience at the NGO, and I felt privileged to have this opportunity
to do something good for the society. It was a fortune to be spend time with experienced
people who taught us many things from their experience.

I really appreciate the organization and the nuns running it since it gives shelter to so
many people and serves as a home for them. It is doing very good for the society and
helping old people.

In a short period of 25 hours, I learnt many things from them and got very attached to
them. I would certainly try to visit the pace later whenever I get an opportunity and meet
all these good people.

I will also be going to help Mr Jacob with his mobile phone.

I am very thankful to the collage to give us this opportunity, so that we could realise our
social responsibility.

I got to know many things about life, and old age and also about family matters, and this
experience will surely help me to make better decisions in life.

AnkurBachhawat
1011133
Working for 25 hours in an ngo was really a nice experience. Our academic coordinator
gave us this work in the second week of December. In a group of

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4(ankur,vaibhav,anand,raj) made a group and started searching for a ngo. At the end we
found an old age home where in which people of old age live. It is like an hostel for the
old age where people are taken care and are living a life to die. The people there are
many in numbers and each of them are provided with their personal rooms in which they
are given all the basic facilities required by them. There at the old age home all the
people are provided with medication and the rest of the facilities which is required at an
old age.

Spending this time with them made us realize that whatever may happen we should not
be doing something like this with our parents who loved us so much and cared for us and
at the end they should not be stranded up alone at such a place. Talking to them, singing
for them, sharing their olden days experience, serving them food, arranging for some sort
of games for them and learning from them was really a wonderful experience.

Even after getting some facilities at their some people had some problems like someone
did not like the food or someone was really not well to eat all types of food because their
body can’t take all types of food and some had a problem of being alone and lonely till
the last day of their lives. Someone has said it true itself that “a person comes in the
world alone and goes away from the world alone”. We could see that people there were
just left alone away from their family and loved ones and have to spend the last day of
their lives all alone and die in vane.

At an old age what a person wants is the support from his family and loved ones but if a
person who does not get this when he really needs it he becomes totally helpless and
lands up at a place where he is just lost in his memories and is living life because he is
waiting to die.

The way people leave their parents at an age where parents just need a shoulder, their
children just leave them helplessly alone without even bothering about all the things their
parents have done for them for years. Parents only wish is to see their children grow and
lead a happy life and do everything to see that their children get what they want and put
in all their efforts but it’s really a shame to see children just leave their parents and they
do not even acknowledge for all the pains their parents have gone through for them

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sacrificing their own happiness for their children’s happiness. Parents would not eat a
times meal but they would never let their children starve even for a second.

It was really a sad scene at the old age home where mothers and fathers and couples, who
were betrayed by their children just for the sake that their children had a problem with
them and even here their parents still for their children’s happiness even leave them and
go. Even at this age parents without even thinking about their own needs they just think
about their children’s happiness. When parents can be so generous it is really a disgust to
see how children’s are so selfish and they just think about themselves and nothing else.
Children sometimes think that their parents are disturbing their privacy and leave them
helplessly just for the sake of their freedom and they don’t think about all the things that
their parents have done for them and be so selfish that they don’t think about anything
else except themselves.

It is really was a nice experience seeing all the old people being left lonely and helpless
still have not lost hopes from their lives, they are sad but they don’t portray that they
really are. They all carry a nice smile over their faces when someone sings with them;
someone talks to them, shares their feelings and spend some time with them. A person
being left alone even accompanied for some time feels as though he has spent one of the
most precious moments of his life. They live their life’s with a total different goal they
live their life’s not being sad but at least with a hope that even though they not going to
live more days but let these last days not turn out to be a misery for them which has
already become a misery for them.

Everyone carries a smile over there but not everyone can see the pain behind those
smiles, pain of being betrayed, and pain of being alone and left over. Some people to
avoid the fact that they are alone they say that they are at the old age home because they
wanted their own privacy at this age and did not want their children to break into their
privacy.

A lady who is 99 years old said that I had three sons and I looked after them all my life
and now can’t they look after me for a while when even they know that am not going to
live for hardly any time but no one even thought about her feelings and her children said
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that at this age we can’t take care of you. It would be such a pain for that lady who lived
for 99 years just for seeing this day that her 3 sons could not take care of her even after
she did so much for them lived all her life for her children that one day her children give
her back all the love she has given them but she has to live or rather die with the fact that
her children can’t give her the love she deserves for all the love she has given her
children.

An uncle named Jacob sitting on a wheel chair just thinks as to how else to spend his rest
of the days where he can’t even move himself on his legs he needs support sitting on a
wheel chair and move from place to place. His life has become so dependent on others
where it is so necessary for his children to guve him support but he does not have anyone
to take care of him because he has two daughters who got married and have settled in
their lives outside India but he was left alone because he couldn’t go with them as his
wife also passed away long back and no one else is there in his family to take care of him
so he lands up at such a place where its just he and his wheel chair and his memories of
his past days where he used to work in the British council and think back about those
days where parents had a completely different roles in their children’s life and they were
given the most importance than anything else. It is the generation nowadays which has
made people so forward that they all just think about money or something else which
satisfies them and nothing else. He is living on his pension and his life is just restricted to
the old age home and nothing else but still he lives his life like as though there is no
sadness in life there is happiness everywhere and he still makes sure that he is satisfying
all his wants by himself without taking anyone’s help not even from his daughters.

Even after losing out so much in life Jacob uncle does not regret even a single moment
because he knows that there is no use of crying on what is lost and cry more that he loses
out more even after knowing that he does not have much of life left but he still feels that
he should live his life king size and be happy in his last days. He always has this smile on
his face which brings out so much of positivity from his side and does not portray any
negativity.

Retired colonel Chatterjee one more person who is left all alone by his children is really
an amazing person from heart. He really has a very big heart but he actually does not
have a heart but is living with the help of a pace maker fitted in his heart. He is a person
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with great valor and self-pride even after not having half of his body organs working he is
living life all alone, he has lost his single eye and then his intestines does not function
properly and his kidney which he lost it during a war time. He has acquired engineering
in 4 fields and mba as well but he could never use his studies anywhere because after
finishing his studies he was posted on the battlefield and after that he lost his heart and
could not do anything but was brought to the old age home and its been 5 years that he
has been living alone in the old age home and is waiting for the day when he is going to
die. But he is a very strong person and even after having a weak heart he does not show
any mood of despair and has acted very strong even after his children leaving him
stranded in the war of life. This person is a true soldier he fought with full determination
during the war when he was in the army and is still fighting a war with life all alone with
full determination; he was alone then and is alone now also before he was alone because
he was away from his family working in the army and is alone now also because his
family has left him. He was alone both the times because he did not have any option at
both the situation in life. Even after fighting so many wars it is really an inspiration to see
him still not losing out in life but he does have some complaints from life like sometimes
he does not like the food served at the old age home, it is so obvious for any human being
to sometimes start showing his problems when he is just left alone at such a point where
he doesn’t even know that when is his life going to end, just living every day waiting for
the machine fitted inside him to stop working and get rid off the war that he is been
fighting everyday even he is actually lost out from his life.

Another lady who lived all her life for bringing up her three sons is really not happy from
her life because she did everything for her children’s happiness and is now all sad
because of them. Her three sons living in different corners of the world just come in a
while to meet her just for the sake of formality and she has made up her mind saying that
she needs her own privacy for living her life that’s why she is staying away from her
children and coincidently when we met her we even saw her son and grandson had come
to visit her and at a time it seemed from her face that she was very happy but after they
left she felt as though she is just been left stranded over a en island where there is no one
except her. Her grandson was about to get married and he did not even take her for her
marriage and dint even make her fiancé meet her she really felt bad about the fact that she
would never be able to meet her grandson wife because he was going to shift to London
21
completely and who knows what fate may do and she would just leave the world anyday
without even seeing her family.

Sometimes even fate be so harmful that there are people living over there who have no
families at all they are living over there because they do not have anyone in this world
left so that why they are living and realty become happy when people like students or
other young people come to meet them and spend some time with them.

The experience really created a picture depicting how life would be when the people you
love and care just leave you and it is a true fact that what we do it to people the same
thing comes back to us in any form or other. If we hurt our parents by leaving them alone
who knows as to what may happen when we would be parents and if our children did
something to us and they leave us at a point where we need someone and no one is there
for us also. It is human behavior that a person would never be happy when he/she is left
alone when he/she really needs someone and no one is there for him/her. It is not
necessary that sometimes people are left alone because their family members leave them
on purpose but there are situations when people are left alone because god has taken
away all their loved ones away from them completely.

The people working in the ngo are really nice people as they are so not selfish. They
work just for the sake of the happiness of the people who living there and serve them
anyhow they can and make sure that at least the service provided by them is done with
full faith, love and care. The old age home is like a small family where people
irrespective of religion and caste are living under one roof and are living a life with the
people whom they have never met in their lifetime and have no relation, have created
such bondage between themselves that they are always together in their happiness and
sadness. They celebrate all the festivals together each other’s birthday together and have
become each other’s support in one way or the other.

The atmosphere at the old age home is so positive; people carry out their daily routine as
prescribed to them by the doctor and how the ngo management has asked them to. They
try to find happiness in small things and just laugh so that they can forget all the sadness
that has been there in their life. A person talking to them for a while and spending some
nice moments with them makes them feel really happy and brings a smile out on their

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faces. The best thing is the way people share all their experiences of life and give
suggestions really gives a new look to live life as they have had really nice experiences
during their times and has brings out a new picture of competition and learning from
them. When people come to visit the place they feel that sometimes they are not alone,
that even after having no one still meeting students or others they feel that there is
someone who would be interested to spend some time with them.

AnandUttrani (1011132)
We were given a social responsibility project by our college to visit a NGO where had to
work for at least 25 hours. We decided to visit an old age home as we all wanted to serve
the old people and share their happiness and grief.

Our team consisted of four people – Anand , Raj , Vaibhav , Ankur. We worked
very hard to find a good NGO. We started searching for a NGO from our various sources
like family , friends , Just Dial , Internet etc. We short listed it down to Cletas Home for
Aged. It is located in Taverekare, Just opp. To St. Johns wood Appt. /Oracle Building. It
was a very big place. There was a very huge garden there. In one building old age people
lived, another one for the young orphans and one building for the staff working there.
There was a church in the main building and on every Sunday there was a Sunday mass
where people came on voluntary basis.

On the first day, I sat for a while out there wondering how to go about all these.
After sometime, sister Leena, the co-ordinator of the NGO came to our rescue. She took
us inside the building. She started introducing us to all the people out there. We met with
some very interesting people there. We assured them that we would come regularly to
meet the for the next whole week.
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 The first person we met was an old lady. Her name was Supriya . She was a very
nice lady, very kind hearted. She asked us from which college do we belong to, when we
told her that we come from Christ University and our course being BBM, She was very
pleased to know this and told us that her nephew has also studied from Christ University
and is now working in New Delhi as a Senior Executive in a Financial Firm.

After meeting her, we moved on and met with an old uncle. He was a retired teacher. He
used to teach Physics, Chemistry and Maths in St. Josephs College, Bangalore. He has
been retired since last ten years and living in the old age home since the past eight years.
He was a great man who had taught childrens for over 40 years . Then we met an old lady
whos name was Shirley Barretand she was 77 years of age .Shen and her husband had
opened a school in Jharkhand and she and her husband with their son came to Bangalore
in 1990 and a few years ago both her husband and son passed away leaving her alone
with no help. Her daughter-in-law moved away to live life separately saying that she was
young and didn't want an added burden of an aging mother-in-law. Shirley found shelter
under the roof of Cletas home for aged. We shared her grief and tried to console her and
anyone could see tears in her eyes . We tried to calm her down and we got coffee and was
with her for a long time .Then we took her leave and told her that we would come the
next day.

We then met met an old lady who was very kind and she wanted us to sing a song
for her .We had tried to sing a song and tried to impress her . She then sang a carol for
us .There were many other people but we were not able to talk to them due to physical
and language barrier.

When I was about to leave, I came across two uncles, sitting in the garden and
chatting. I went with my friends to meet them and introduce ourselves to them and they
also told their names . One was Mr. Jacob who had spent most of his life in Calcutta
working in a government office . His wife had passed away and he had a son who was
there in London and was doing a job of an accountant.

The name of the other uncle was was a doctor and he was from kerela. We left after
talking to them and promised to come the next day.

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 The next day when we came, it was a bright with the sun roaring as it was a Sunday
. We started our day with gardening and watering of the plants . After completing our
gardening, we went inside to meet new and interesting people.

We met with a very old lady who was approaching 100 and her was due to complete a
century on June 6. She was a nice lady and was very old . She even had a great grandson .
Then we met an uncle whos name was Mr. Chtterjee and he was an engineer and had
served the army.It was very emotional to talk with him as he continuously pointed out
that there has nothing been spoken about the mental state of old people and their
problems, the suffocation faced by them.

There was another old lady whose grandson had come all the way from London to
meet her. We spoke to her about her experiences in the NGO to which she said she was
satisfied. She was a nice lady and she was talking to us as though we were her own
children.
While talking to her we learnt that she was very fond of music and loved Hindi music. To
please her and to make feel good we sang a song for her which she really enjoyed and
was tapping her feet to the rhythm of the music. Other people gathered around hearing us
sing and started to jingle along with the tunes of the music with us.

After the song we got them their evening snacks along with tea and coffee. After that we
left for the day and we decided to come on the next day.

She was kind hearted lady and she felt good when we had gone to talk to her. She
treated us like her own children. She told us that she felt good whenever childrens like us
came to her. She told us about his son and his grandson.
Then we walked towards a lady who was living with her husband in the same old
age home. Both of them were very good and they made a nice couple. They were talking
to us very nicely. They shared stories about there marriage and they told us that they had
a love marriage which was very rare at there time.
When we were going out we met with those two uncles. We took them outside near
the garden as they felt nice being there. That was the first time we started our

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introduction. One of them was a doctor and the other was a retired government employee.
The name of the doctor was Mr. Chatterjee and the name of the other uncle was Jacob.
We had a debate with them. They asked us about the IPL auctions and about the working
of the IPL. They were tired of seeing things about the auctions on most of the news
channels. Then we talked about there families. Mr. Jacob told us that he had a son and he
went to London for studying and there he got married after that and after some time he
divorced from from that lady he had married and got married with another lady.
We discussed on other matters and then as it was going to be dark we took there leave
and left as it was time for there dinner. We told them that we we would come on the next
day.
The days at the NGO went on like this and everyday we had to just talk with people and
remove their loneliness.

It was a very good experience at the NGO, and I felt privileged to have this opportunity
to do something good for the society. It was a fortune to be spend time with experienced
people who taught us many things from their experience.

I really appreciate the organisation and the nuns running it since it gives shelter to so
many people and serves as a home for them. It is doing very good for the society and
helping old people.

In a short period of 25 hours, I learnt many things from them and got very attached to
them. I would certainly try to visit the pace later whenever I get an opportunity and meet
all these good people.

I will also be going to help Mr. Jacob with his problems concerned with the cell phone. I
am very thankful to the collage to give us this opportunity, so that we could realize our
social responsibility .I got to know many things about life, and old age and also about
family matters, and this experience will surely help me to make better decisions in life.

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Raj Shah
(1011110)
It was a wonderful experience for me to work in NGO and it helped me learn lot of
things. Cletas Home For the aged in Kormangala, it is located in a quiet by-lane. The
peace and serenity of the campus accompanied by the beauty of the greenery of the
nearby vegetation, gives a very unique first impression to a visitor.

I, as a visitor on my first visit felt a difference in the air as I entered the campus of Cletas
Home. It is a very quiet campus which is successfully maintained by Sister Leena. As
part of our social responsibility project my friends and I decided to complete our project
at this particular NGO. I was honored to meet many lively and intense personalities with
whom I could share many of my experiences as a student. I enjoyed hearing many stories
from the uncles and aunties about the times of the various stories and experiences they
had to offer.

The first person who we met was a lady named Supriya, who was 77 years old and was a
teacher in Jharkhand before spending her life after the death of her husband and solitary
son at the old age home. Initially, sisters Leena took all four of us room by room and
introduced everyone to us and make us familiar with the campus. Amongst all the people
I met, Jacob uncle and doctor uncle were the two people for whom I would rush to meet
after college to have another discussion about how the world has changed or maybe
something as simple as the unpredictability of the Bangalore weather! Stationed by the
grotto as we enter the campus, Jacob uncle and doctor uncle would position themselves at
“their usual spot”, as Jacob uncle puts it.

We also had numerous conversations about doctor uncle and his stories from his native
place in Kerela, he also had a ear and eye for current affairs and the present state of our

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country. On the other hand Jacob uncle had stayed in Calcutta most of his life, working at
the British Council. He was partially paralyzed and had a son who migrated to the United
States. He was a carefree man who had no regrets about his life and was very grateful to
the almighty for such a wonderful life. Inside, as we enter the main building and walk
through the corridors we can visually notice numerous pictures of Lord Jesus and Mother
Mary. But, as we walk along the ground floor on the right we notice a huge structure in
the middle of the courtyard, the prayer room, a small chapel where voluntary mass was
conducted every Sunday morning at 7:30. On the 1st floor we encounter many aunties, all
reminding me of my very own grandmother. I was highly impressed by one particular
lady, who is of 99 years of age, it seems a century is inevitable for aunty. I, ironically
remember her birthday on the 6th of June. Though her age in number may suggest
something to a person’s mind but it is auntie’s will to get to the three digit figure that her
heart keeps pulling her physically on. Her son(she fondly took him as her son), the
colonel as we know him(his real name is Mr.Chatterjee) is not as strict as he may look.
He holds a different aura around himself. He would talk to us about how he has become
old and he even asked us in this modern world is there was any cure to the diseases and
problems that is faced in ones old age. He has a pacemaker in his heart and was really
delighted to meet all of us. As we moved on and walked to the third floor, the whole
courtyard could be seen from a bird’s eye view. The corridors of this floor seemed
deserted; the void seemed to be filled by the occasional snore of an uncle inside his room
enjoying a quiet afternoon siesta or maybe a cleaner who maybe cleaning the floors. This
occurred due to the fact that all uncles and aunties would confine themselves to their
rooms after the sunset. Now, past sunset as I would normally head home, I made it a
habit to meet Jacob uncle and doctor uncle, to wish them a good evening before I left,
that was of course had I not spent the whole day with them. I also happened to meet and
interact with the neighbours residing near the campus. They would also spend their
evenings on the campus learning from the numerous experiences that it and its residents
have to offer.

When I look back at my experience at the NGO, Cletas Home there were many things
that I have learnt and reminded about. The conversations with Jacob uncle and doctor
uncle revealed how much our country and the times we live in have changed. Also, when
I hear about the stories the uncles and aunties residing there have to offer about their
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lives I do feel bad the way their close ones from family to friends have deserted them due
to castes differences and shame in acceptance.

It was a very different and new experience for me. It really touched me and am grateful to
have been offered such an opportunity for such a unique experience.

Recommendations
Many people do not have the opportunity to interact with elderly people on a regular
basis, and you may be one of them. I strongly suggest that you seek out situations where
you can engage in conversation with the older generation. Sometimes initiating
conversation with someone so far removed from your environment can seem awkward,
stilted, or even boring; but when you have patience, you will be surprised at the rewards.
Ask questions and then sit back and listen. Elderly people are not only the link to your
past, but they are who you will be one day -- the link to your future.

Besides a wealth of wisdom that only the elderly can impart, relationships with a past
generation can give us a deeper understanding and even make us more comfortable with
our own aging and eventually with our own mortality. Think about the memories that you
have with Grandparents or Aunts and Uncles. Do you have questions that will never be
answered because you didn't take the time to ask them when you had the chance? If you
have Grandparents who are still living take a tape recorder on your next visit. Ask them
questions about their lives. What have they experienced that you never did? What are you
doing in your life that they can never have imagined? If you allow them to be,
conversations with the elderly can be mutual gifts. You are allowing them an opportunity
to share their greatest possessions -- their memories -- and they are allowing you to share
experiences that you are having -- the dream of a life that they will never know. You are
giving each other a glimpse of both the past and the future. What a great gift to give one
another and it doesn't cost a thing.

Take advantage of the experiences of those older, and now, wiser. They have already
forgotten more then we know. Elderly people have fought and won the wars, endured
unparalleled financial hardships, and essentially lived in a different world than our own.
Perhaps you can benefit by learning from their successes and failures, and then one day

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pass it on yourself. As their eyesight is slowly failing, allow them the joy of 20/20 vision
again -- through hindsight. I guarantee, it is not only their vision you will improve. Life is
very fragile and all the more precious when you are very old. Do what you can to make
these days special for them, while making the most of your time together for yourself.
Whether you are mentioned in their will or not, you'll be a wealthy beneficiary.

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