Illustration by Pariplab Chakraborty/The Wire. India.
Six A4 size notebooks bear witness to the 17 months Kiran Gawli spent in Nagpur Central prison. Each day, Kiran would unfailingly steal a few moments to note down the day’s events – of newly forged friendships, anguish, loneliness and sometimes heartbreak. Some days the words would flow like a poetry; on other days, just a few raw, angry lines. The diary – titled
Kiran-e-dastan (loosely translates to the memoirs of Kiran) – has words etched on each line and page.
Some pages of the deftly written book, however, are missing – as though someone has angrily ripped them out. The prison
India s elderly population is expected to touch 300 million by 2050
NEW DELHI: Pictures and reports of down and out elders being left on the highway by the Indore municipality shocked the nation, but the struggle for existence is a daily fight for many of India s seniors. Recognising their plight, the government is set to launch a mid-day meal scheme for indigent elders, support start ups prepared to work for welfare of the old and self help groups will offer reskilling for seniors as part of a comprehensive outreach.
A fast growing elderly population expected to touch 300 million by 2050 has prompted the government to draw a roadmap for five years setting targets for existing schemes and planning new ones including a Poshan Abhiyan for Elderly. Malnourished elderly, mostly destitutes, who are not in any old age home will be identified and provided a hot cooked meal daily. To begin with the meals will be offered in 2,000 panchayats and 200 municiplaities.