Enriching lives

Senior citizens often wonder how to make the most of their time post retirement. Many worry about what to do with the endless hours stretching in front of them. They could take a cue from PK Venkataramanan’s book. Here’s the story of SCEP.

About three years ago (sometime in 2009) Mr Venkataramanan started Senior Citizen’s Enrichment Programme (SCEP) for seniors living in an around his neighbourhood in Indiranagar, Bangalore.

A retired architect by profession and founder of Venkataramanan Associates, Mr. Venkataramanan has been active with various projects post retirement, including RISE (Residents’ Initiative for Safe Environment), a project that involved garbage segregation and night time neighbourhood patrolling.

An avid golf player, he started SCEP to introduce fresh ideas and activities into the lives of retired seniors in his area, based on his firm belief that everybody wants to spend their time gainfully.

“We started with about 50 seniors in the age group of 60 and above,” he says. The plan was simple. “Most elders are looking for something to do with their time. There is a vacuum in all our lives after retirement and some don’t have any other vocation,” says Mr. Venkataramanan, adding that many seniors have never played a sport or indulged in any other activity in their working years and post retirement find it difficult to occupy their time. “Many have never used a computer before,” he says, adding that the aim of SCEP is to make the void in their lives disappear.

The members meet every Wednesday and discuss issues, practice something new or hear an expert talk. The subjects are rather diverse.

“Many of our members were experts in their fields, so we discuss issues like finances and insurance, for instance. One of our members is a travel agent so he organizes trips. We also invite speakers to come and share their experiences with us. E.g., we had a session on electronic aids for old age, which many people were not aware of. We have also introduced our members to computer literacy and have had talks on interpersonal relationships and how to maintain them, how to fit yourself in your family, etc.,” Mr. Venkataramanan.

SCEP is run rather systematically and the advance agenda of the Wednesday meeting is circulated by email among members. Members pay a very nominal amount of Rs 50 per month for basic expenses like coffee and biscuits, etc. The venue is usually Mr. Venkataramanan’s garden. “Out of 50 members, about 20 turn up due to various reasons but even that 20 is a large number and it’s a big thing that we all end up meeting instead of sitting in our homes,” he points out.

The group has also conducted an art class and called in a Yoga expert to conduct morning Yoga sessions. Stained glass artist Saarus Nirhali organized a few sessions with the group as well. Most of the members have been writers, bureaucrats, bank officials, government servants, private employees or businesspersons in their professional days and between themselves, they bring a wealth of knowledge to the table. “The variety of experiences shared helps all of us,” Mr. Venkataramanan shares. Biannual dinners are also organized for members and their families.

So how does an organization like this help its members cope with the endless hours and lack of work that often symbolizes retirement for many?

In several ways, says Mr. Venkataramanan. “Sharing things with each other makes the members cope with the issues in their daily lives. We are there for each other. Most importantly, people are looking at spending their time usefully and SCEP tries to help them do that. Our aim is to empower people,” he says, signing off.

If you live in the Indiranagar area in Bangalore or elsewhere and are interested in joining SCEP or doing a workshop with them, mail us on silvertalkies@gmail.com