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A mother of 100
 Home for the aged and creches, which were feww in number in Chennai, have now increased manifold, which triggers a question in one's mind about the flippant attitude of the younger generation. It is a bitter truth that today many elders, not wanting to be a burden to their children, or elders driven out by their own children from their homes, seek refuge in old age homes.
"The women who work with my mother-in-law often used to complain that unlike her son, who looks after her well, they were not being cared for by their sons. When my mother-in-law used to come and tell me about their sufferings, the desire to do something to alleviate their pain used to cross my mind. The result is Saraswathi Ammal Old Age Free Home for Elderly Destitutes, Children," says Hemalatha, about the reasons for starting the home.
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To convert her thoughts into action, she advertised in a daily and 20 aged people were admitted in her home. Though there were many obstacles and hurdles while starting this home, she has managed to cross them and turn it into a full-fledged service
centre.
 Today there are 25 old people under her care. Apart from elders, they have taken destitute children also under their wings. At present, there are 65 children and overall there are nearly a 100 people being taken care of in this home.
Hemalatha's wish and hope is that in future there should be no orphans or abandoned elders in our country. Children abandoned by their parents, children who are orphaned, elders rejected by their by their children find solace in her motherly care and her only worry today is to take care of them till the very end without any difficulty.
 She is a mother of 100 children today - like a modern-day
Gandhari - and one wonders how she manages to provide for their food, clothes and education. Initially, she manage by selling her jewels and other articles. Though some benevolent and beneficient souls extended help, it was not sufficient or adequate to satisfy the requirements.
"Some good clothes that you possess, the money that you spend in a day when you eat out or see a movie, even if you donate a part of it, it can bring a smile on their faces. Many a drop makes an ocean," says Hemalatha and one cannot disagree with her as good deeds makes one's life more meaningful than anything else.
Rush in those old clothes and your contributions to:
Hemalatha, Manager,
Saraswathi Ammal Old Age Free Home for Elderly Destitutes, Children,
Kanchi Sankarar Saraswathi Ammal Trust,
17-A, Chamiers Road,
Nandanam,
Chennai - 600 035.
Phone No - 52030307, 52110863
email: saraswathi_04@yahoo.co.in
Residence phone - 26567296.
KT Sri
Translated by Radha N.
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