Red Cross to build old age home in city

Facility in Vadaj will also house a research centre; the Rs 7-cr project is being funded by corporate houses

By Yogesh Avasthi and Vijay Zala
Posted On Monday, December 21, 2009 at 02:40:54 AM (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2009122120091221024054424cadf6e8)

What may the its first in the country, the Indian Red Cross Society (Gujarat) is setting up an old age home in Ahmedabad. Spread over a sprawling area in a prime location in Vadaj, the campus will also have a training and research centre.

IRCS officials are calling it the Senior Citizen Home Training and Research Centre and say that the project will cost Rs 7 crore which is being funded by major corporate houses. Officials say that Rs 4 crore has been set aside for the old age home.

IS THERE A NEED?

“Yes, there is a need for old age homes in Ahmedabad. We decided to build one based on our findings,” said Dr Anilbhai Khatri,a member of the project committee.

To know the demand, the IRCS placed a classified advertisement with just a post box number to reply on. The advert did not have any details except sketchy information about a proposed old age home in a prime location of the city. “We received 400 applications, which is overwhelming. People did not even know the details yet they responded to the classified,” he said.

HOW WILL IT BE?

This will be a 84-bed facility categorised into classes. There will be 22 luxurious, air-conditioned rooms with double occupancy having special attendants and amenities. Six rooms without air-conditioning will be have four beds each, and two dormitaries — one each for men and women — will have a total of 16 beds.

“The rooms may have been classified, but recreational and dining areas will be common. All will be treated with care. categorising the rooms will not mean that a dorm resident will not be looked after well,” Gauttam C Shah, chairman of the project committee told AM.

WHEN WILL IT BE READY?

Shah informed that contract to build the facility has been awarded through tenders. “Foundation will be laid by month-end or the first week of December and the centre is expected to be ready in a year and haIf,” Shah said.

IRCS general secretary Madhuben Naik said someone has to take the responsibility to address this situation. “We hope that the old age home will be of immense help to those in need,” ‘she said.

A committee will be formed for allotting the rooms which will also decid the rent. “We are flooded with queries, but allocations will take place only at a later stage,” said Shah. The training and research centre will offer 35 vocational courses to the unemployment and less educated.

According to the plan, the centre will have facilities for research on thalassaemia, AIDS and major diseases besides a state-of-the-art lab. The facility is said to also have a five-bed hospital, a conference hall, a recreational centre, a blood transfusion centre, a library-cum-gym and residences for nurses and doctors.