These Abandoned Elderly Look Up To Ugraiah As Their Son, Help Him Take Care Of Them

Every morning, the residents of Gandhi Old Age Home, Bangalore, wake up to the temple bells of the Balagopala Ganapathi—Sanjeevanjaneya temple that is built in the shelter home and the mantras chanted by 79 YO man, Vedanta ji. He has been staying in the old age home for the last 22 years and has found a new family in all the 80 residents of the home. 

“But his condition was horrible when we found him. After their only son passed away in a road accident, this man and his wife didn’t want to live. Vedanta ji is visually impaired due to glaucoma and his wife was mentally challenged. Thankfully, the police found them at the right time and they started living in our old age home. His wife passed away 5 years back, but Vedanta ji is still with us. We call him Shashtriji who takes care of our temple - he is loved and revered by all of us here,” - Ugraiah C, Founder, Gandhi Old Age Home.  

Once an engineer and a union leader, Vedanta’s life was reduced to nothing because there was no one to look after him. Mr. Ugraiah and his team gave him hope and happiness. The 80 residents of the home consider Mr. Ugraiah nothing less than their own son.  

Hailing from a small village in Karnataka, Ugraiah always wanted to help the poor and the underprivileged

Mr. Ugraiah was born in a small village in the Magadi taluk of Karnataka. His childhood wasn’t an easy one, yet he graduated and got a job in Bangalore. But he never forgot the suffering and the poverty that surrounded him as he grew up. 

“I knew I wanted to help those who have no one. So, with the support of some of my friends, I started Gandhi Old Age Home in 2001. Initially, we had around 10 residents but now we have a facility that can house 200 people. All the residents here are no less than family to me. We take care of their food, and medical needs and even perform their last rites when their own sons and daughters refuse to come.”  

The old age home aims to build an environment where the residents are cheerful and healthy without any worry about their daily chores. The skilled staffs look after them - even the ones who are physically challenged and are unable to move without the help of a wheelchair. They change the bedsheets, apply ointments on their bedsores and shower them with love. Under the stewardship of Mr. Ugraiah, this old age home has become a haven for all those who had given up on life. 

Help Ugraiah save many more elderly from a life of suffering and pain 

The old age home is solely dependent on donations from kind people and often they face severe challenges in ensuring that all the residents are fed properly. While Mr. Ugraiah has dedicated his life to the care of the abandoned elderly for the last 22 years, he needs your help to continue his noble work. 

“We find them in railway stations, bus stops, sleeping by the road with no one to offer them a single meal. The others who have been formally admitted to the old age home by their families never hear back from their sons and daughters. The need of the hour is to support such people rather than waste time criticising their families. I request you to please help us in any way you can.”  

You can donate groceries, medicines, and hygiene products like adult diapers to help the 80 residents of Gandhi Old Age Home live a life of happiness and comfort. 

About the NGO: Ugraiah C. founded Gandhi Old Age Home in Bangalore in 2001 and for the last 22 years, he has been serving the abandoned and the poor elderly. He dreams of giving them a life of comfort and dignity. Growing up in a small village in Karnataka, he overcame several challenges to stand on his own feet. This man with a heart of gold didn’t forget his roots and decided to give back to society. The Gandhi Old Age Home is like a big family where all the residents are given the utmost love and care.