Around Town 3CHENNAI 3CHENNAIFRIDAY

23 FEBRUARY 2018

NT BureauChennai, Feb 23:

The Regional Offi ce of Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation will con-duct ‘Nidhi Aapke Nikat’ (PF Near You) for speedy redressal of long pending grievances of the subscribers/employers at No 37, Royapettah High Road on 12 March. According to an offi cial press release, for subscribers/members/ pensioners, the meeting will be held between 10.30 am and 1 pm, employ-ers - 3 pm and 4 pm and exempted establishments located in jurisdiction between 4 pm and 5 pm.

Subscribers/ employers who desire to get their long pending unresolved griev-ances redressed or have any other suggestions on improvement of service/organisation, may register their names with the Public Relations Offi cer duly furnishing their PF code number / account number, nature of grievance on or before 1 March. The aforesaid timings are only for guidance and the employers may also present their grievances, if any, earlier during the day, the release said.

For more details, contact: 2813 9200.

LIVINGWITHDIGNITY� A foundation inChennai cares for elderly� From poor to rich,they cater to old people

ly

SHE CARESDignity Foundation was started in 1995 by

Sheilu Sreenivasan, an MA in Psychiatric Social Work from Madras University, who had a passion for the cause. She is also the current president of the organisation. Headquartered at Mumbai, the foundation has chapters in major cities like Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Pune and Bengaluru.

Dignity Foundation has 200 dignity members all over Chennai. Apart from their usual activi-ties, they also conduct weekly programmes like books and movie review discussion, classes on modern digital technology, income-tax and insurance advice. Monthly and yearly programmes like loneliness mitigation trips, medical check-up and awareness pro-grammes are also conducted.

Wish to join, donate or just wish them success? Call 044 26210363.

A HARSHA VARDHANChennai, Feb 23:

For senior citizens who have worked the better part of their life away, sacrifi cing time and health for their loved ones, it is important that they get a little rest and peace of mind during the sunset years of their life. Dignity Foundation, non-profi t organisation in Anna Nagar provides just that by giving senior citizens recreational space and enabling them to lead a more digni-fi ed, secure, joyful and fulfi lling life through various activities and educational programmes. The chief dignitarian of the foundation in Chennai, Sundara Gopalan, said, ‘It is an organisation for, of and by senior citizens. During the later part of their lives, along with maintaining physical health, it is equally important to keep themselves occupied and have good mental health. This is where the organisation helps.’

‘It is mainly meant for the recreation of senior citizens and it is not a project-oriented organisation,’ says Sundara Gopalan, and adds, ‘Our aim is to create an enlightened society where senior citizens feel secure, confi dent and valued, so they can live with dignity.’

The organisation is involved in many activities like running an elder help line, providing pro-fessional counselling, dementia care centre, ration supply for poor old, medical checkup and awareness programmes for people living in slums and arranging loneliness mitigation trips. ‘Students from colleges like Madras School of Social Work, DG Vaishanav and Loy-ola intern and volunteer here to be with the elderly and help us in our pro-grammes,’ she said.

DEMENTIA CENTRESDementia is a degener-

ative brain disorder lead-ing to memory loss. India has an estimated 4.4 million people affected by it but with very neg-ligible support systems. To address this issue,

Dignity Foundation started its dementia centre in Chennai. Through trained caregivers who ad-m in i s te r medicine, food and also involve the patients in social ac-tivities, the foundation helps people with dementia and eases the bur-den on their relatives.

Sundara Gopalan explains, ‘We have a dementia day care centre. We have a van and our attendants and caretakers accompany the driver to pick up dementia patients in our care around 9.30 am every day on weekdays. Occupational therapist keeps them engaged the whole day. We try to improve their memory power by engaging them in activities in whatever fi eld they are interested in. Some like to string beads, some indulge in art. We help them to take part in activities according to their wish. We later drop them back home at 3.30 pm.’

‘In degenerative diseases like dementia, loneliness is the main enemy. We have to ensure that they are happy by making them be in a group among friends,’ she pointed out.

HELP LINE FOR THE ELDERLYOne of the unique things that the foundation offers is a free helpline - 044

26210363 - for the elderly. They provide counselling, attend to distress calls regarding elder abuse and even give legal advice.

Chennai Chapter manager of Dignity Foundation, Felista Jose, who handles the calls, says, ‘The elderly can call us for anything and we will provide them assistance in any way we can. They can discuss any problem that they have with us. We also have a senior advocate of High Court, Raj Narayan, who is our legal advisor and provides legal advice for senior citizens.’

‘People sometimes just want to speak to us and share their pain, queries regarding rental agreement problems, will and settlement issues. They call us on the free helpline,’ she said.

RATION SUPPLIES FOR POOR OLDEach month, ration supplies are given by the foundation for selected old

people who cannot fend for themselves. ‘Essentials food items like rice, dal, oil, tea, sugar, and spices are pro-

vided for one full month - weighing nearly 24 kg - that are delivered at their doorstep. This cost Rs 1,100 per old person per month and Rs 1,500 per couple per month,’ said Felista Jose.

Dementia affected people participating in a Dementia affected people participating in a programme conducted at the day care centre programme conducted at the day care centre run by Dignity Foundation at Anna Nagar.run by Dignity Foundation at Anna Nagar.

NT BureauChennai, Feb 23:

Prosperity gives us abundance but we need to be cautious for such affl uence doesn’t come without a cost, was the point driven home at the inauguration of 16th national congress of Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society of India (OSSI) here on Thursday. In his inaugural address, Apollo Hospitals group executive chairman, Dr Prathap C Reddy, said obesity was the price we pay for prosperity, and it is here things are not all that right.

Turning obese only means chances of developing other health complications like diabetes and heart diseases. Occurrence of obesity can be prevented through modifi cations in lifestyle and dietary patterns. It is here the role of professionals like dietitians become crucial, he said.

Putting up a sign of caution, the Apollo Hospitals chief said with a lot of peo-ple already affected with NCDs (non-communicable diseases) like diabetes in India, there is a requirement to be more watchful about issues like obesity.

The three-day conference is being organised to provide a knowledge sharing platform for bariatric surgeons, clinicians, anaesthesiologists, endocrinolo-gists from around the globe to highlight the latest advancements in the fi eld of bariatrics. OSSI is a not-for-profi t body of bariatric surgeons in India, and brings together all the expertise of bariatric surgeons of the country and other clinical experts within its ambit for the cause of treating morbidly obese patients.

‘Turning obese leads to complications’� Prathap C Reddy inaugurates16th national congress of OSSI

Apollo Hospitals group executive chairman, Dr Prathap C Reddy, releas-ing the journal on ‘Annals of Bariatric & Metabolic Surgery’ in Chennai on Thursday. Apollo Hospitals director (Institute of Bariatrics), Dr Rajkumar Palaniappan, is present.

YOU KNOW THAT� Prevalence of obesity has nearly tripled post-1975 till 2018.� Once only associated with the high-income countries, it is now

prominently prevalent in the middle- and low-income countries as well.

� Childhood obesity has also risen to be a serious public health challenge in the 21st century.

EPS, Stalin breakbarriers between them� To jointly take up Cauvery issue with Modi � DMK to support govt

NT BureauChennai, Feb 23:

The Tamilnadu government has drafted a set of rules for the dif-ferently-abled and has welcomed suggestions and objections from the public within 15 days from the period of publication of the notifi cation in the Tamilnadu government gazette.

The rules talk about guardianship added with procedures, special provi-

sions, competent authority for regis-tration of institutions, application and grant of certifi cation of registration.

Also, the authorities are supposed to provide disability certifi cate for par-ticular types of disabilities. The rule states that any person can appeal against a decision of the certifying authority. The members of the State Advisory Board of Disabilities will be nominated by the State government.

Govt readies draftrules for disabled

� TN invites suggestions/objections to the points � Differently-abled say they

have not been informed

CREATING FUNDThe State government will be creating a fund, called State Fund for

Persons with Disabilities, expressly for the welfare of the differently-abled. Apart from the government contribution, it would also include donations, gifts and others granted for the welfare of the differently-abled. A three-member committee will operate the fund and all trans-action processes and accounts. The fund will be used for providing fi nancial assistance for differently-abled, administrative and other expenses. However, every proposal of expenditure will be placed before the governing body. The accounts will be audited by the Comptroller or Auditor General of India.

EPFO meet 12 March

NT BureauChennai, Feb 23:

The day-long all party meeting convened by the State government on Cauvery issue was marked by a rare bonhomie, in which leaders including Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and DMK working presi-dent Stalin, who is also the Leader of Opposition, exchanged pleasantries.

The all party meet on the issue as-sumes signifi cance as it takes place after nearly 11 years in the State, the earlier being on 15 April 2007 when DMK chief M Karunanidhi was the Chief Minister.

During Thursday’s meeting, it was decided to fi le a review petition in the apex court to seek clarifi cations and prefer an appeal, if needed, on the fi nal award of the Cauvery Tribunal.

The meet was held days after the Supreme Court verdict reduced the quantum of Cauvery water to Tamilnadu by 14.65 tmc ft In a show of solidarity, three unanimous reso-lutions were adopted at the meet, held at the Secretariat, where lead-ers of parties, including DMK and farmers’ leaders participated.

Resolutions passed � Palaniswami will lead a delegation of leaders of all parties, farmers

and MPs from the State to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Cauvery issue and urge him to immediately set up the Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulatory Authority as per the apex court’s order to set up the bodies within six weeks.

� Appropriate action will be taken by consulting legal experts on the cut in the quantum of water for Tamilnadu.

� The Prime Minister will be urged to immediately implement the apex court verdict’s benefi cial features for Tamilnadu.

WHAT PALANISWAMI SAIDIn his opening remarks,

Palaniswami batted for unity among parties to es-tablish the State’s rights despite differences.

He said, ‘Cauvery wa-ter dispute is not only the livelihood issue of

our Cauvery Delta farm-ers’ but it is intertwined with the emo-tions of the state.’

He assured act ion based on their feedback by consulting legal experts.

STALIN’ SASSURANCE

Assuring his party’s full support to the government on the issue, Stalin said steps should also be taken to save, conserve and eco-nomically use the Cauvery water by setting up a Wa-ter Security Board in sync

with a recommendation of renowned farm scientist M S Swaminathan.

He sought a separate department to take up works including rain and fl ood water harvesting and desilting waterbodies.

BJP’S PART BJP Tamilnadu unit president Tamilisai Sounda-

rarajan said her party will stand behind the gov-ernment in its efforts to secure the State’s rights

on the issue.OPS BLAMES KARNATAKA

Deputy Chief Minister O Panneer-selvam cited Sangam Tamil literature and said the Cauvery was an intrin-sic part in the life of the Tamilnadu people.

Blaming Karnataka, he said, ‘The reason for the Cauvery dispute is the selfi shness of Karnataka to claim

exclusive rights over the river.’That such a ‘selfish attitude, has not changed to

this day is reflected in their recent speeches,’ he said

without naming anyone from the neighbouring State.

THOSE PRESENTState secretar ies of

CPI, CPI (M), R Muthar-asan and K Balakrishnan respectively, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi chief Thol Thirumavalavan,

AISMK chief R Sarath K u m a r , P M K l e a d e r GK Mani were among 39 leaders who took part . Representat ives of 14 farmers bodies i n c l u d i n g P R P a n -d ian and Vet tava lam K Manikandan part ic i -pated.

The allowance paid for the non-offi cial members of the advisory board will dif-fer according to the place where they reside. Member not from Chennai will be given travel allowance.

At the district-level, the commit-tee will be formed by the inclusion of the collector and other ex-officio members. For disposal of a com-

plaint certain procedures should be carried out - name, description and address of the complainant and opposite party, investigating the facts relating to the complaint, document in support of the allegations and relief the complainant claims. The State commission must also provide annual reports, said the draft.

RUSH JOBTalking about the draft rules framed by the government, Tamil Nadu As-

sociation for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Care Givers (TARATDAC), State secretary, S Namburajan, says the government must have framed the rules long ago. He claims that the time provided (15 days) for the public to record their objections/suggestions is very little. Also, there was no news in the media about the draft rules being framed and the government did not disseminate the information widely. So, he said, many associations of differently-abled were unaware of the new draft rules and were unable to contribute meaningfully to tweak it.

MILITARY ENGINEER SERVICESNOTICE INVITING E-TENDERS

Commander Works Engineers, Pallavan Salai, Chennai - 600 002 on behalf of the President of India invites online item rate bids on Single Stage Two Cover Bid System for the following work:

1. Name of work : SPECIAL REPAIRS TO ROADS AT BAFFLE RANGE AT OTA CHENNAI UNDER GE STM CHENNAI

2. Estimated Cost : Rs.47.50 Lakhs3. Period of Completion : 04 Months4. Tender Id : 2018_MES_174080_1

For further details, refer web site www.eprocuremes.gov.inDAVP/10102/11/2484/1718