(A unique medical rehab centre for senior citizens)
Tell us about the start of your journey working for a social cause and what spurred it on.
I attended Narayan Malhar Joshi’s social service class in the NM Joshi Academy established by him that trained volunteers in social service. His class inspired me and made me aware that social activities are need of the hour. When I returned to Goa after Liberation at the age of 22, I found plenty of opportunities to work in this field. Back then, most women in rural areas had no opportunities to find professional work. My friend and freedom fighter Mitra Bir motivated me to create mahila mandals in villages. We ran programmes including awareness generation camps. For children, we ran balwadis. We would run holiday camps where poor children would be taken on 15-day residential camps in Goa and other parts of India. This is how the journey began.
What challenges do women face when attempting to resolve social issues?
After caring for elderly people at Sanjivan, I decided to study bedridden patients. There were three or four women asking for euthanasia. Terminal sickness, can cause immense suffering. People must be able to legally consent to something as serious as euthanasia. I tried my best to write to various doctors and lawyers about a public interest litigation (PIL) requesting the Supreme Court to make amendments to rules regarding euthanasia. But I’m not an activist. I am unable to go at this age to file a PIL.
How important is family support in your cause?
I found the support of my parents and family very encouraging. Nobody ever prevented me from doing my social work.
What has been the toughest challenge you faced so far? How did you overcome it and what did you learn from it?
Soon after my husband was awarded an Air Force gallantry medal, he died in an air crash. We had two girls, one and four years so we went to live in Bombay with my in-laws. From the peaks of happiness, by destiny I was grounded. Despite this, I wanted to continue my work and put myself out in the world. I would have been very unhappy sitting at home doing nothing.
How did you juggle your personal and professional life?
I was working in Panjim and my mother helped take care of my children with a nice maid. There wasn’t as much traffic and chaos, and I could really have a decent life. I had the means to take care of my family and do my work well.
Read the full article in ‘Viva Goa’ magazine copy.
Viva Goa magazine is now on stands. Available at all major book stalls and supermarkets in Goa.
