Publication: Tom Holloway
and Radha Konda
    

Number 10 --- August 2020
Singapore/Asia Pacific Alliance Thomas and Carol Kuan 
   
DELHI - Plantation Scheme launched

A Plantation Drive in Delhi has been launched by Delhi Government during Van "Mahotsav, 2020, from 10th to 26th July, 2020 against the backdrop of the Covid -19 crisis, which is a challenging times for all of us in Delhi and everywhere in the World.

The last few months have taught us that we cannot ignore the health of our fellow citizens. We cannot ignore the air,water & noise around us. If we take care of the environment the environment will take care of us. Delhi Govt. is commited to care for our relationship with nature.
KOLKATA

From Mousumi Gupta; Zonal Secretary of ISU3A's Eastern Zone.

Thikana, as an organization did remarkable job in providing food and clothing during lockdown.

Another diasaster that struck eastern part of India was
cyclone “ Amphan ”. Huge areas on the path of the cyclone had a devastating effect. Trees were uprooted, farms devastated, houses destroyed, and many people were left without food for several days.

Thikana visited Nimpith Ashram area and distributed food and essentials to people in need. pdf version here>>>
NEPAL - World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2020

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was celebrated in coordination with Bihani Social Venture from 13th - 16th June. On the occasion a campaign was conducted that became successful to reach more than 1000 people.

Flyers and posters with national data on elder abuse (English and Nepali) and information related to elder abuse in Nepal was designed and shared. An article on “ Impact of COVID- 19, Violence, Abuse and Neglect among older people” was published. Lastly, a radio programme and a virtual session on “The Impact of COVID-19 on Violence, Abuse and Neglect of Older Persons” was conducted.

ISU3A SUPPORT ELDERS - Rabindranath Tagore Online

Can anything unshackle minds, either from fear or lockdown ennui, than the wonderful poetry of Rabindranath Tagore, especially if it is the International Tagore Poem Recitation Day? At Support Elders, we celebrated the awarding of the Nobel Prize to Kobiguru Rabindranath on June 30, 1913. The spirit of this day was recreated by our members, Mr A Dutta, Ms A Samanta , Ms C Dasgupta, Ms G Mitra Ghosh, Ms H Dutta, Ms K Banerjee, Ms P Roy, Ms S Lahiri , Ms S Chattapadhyay , Ms S Chatterjee and Ms S Basu , who presented 'Tagore Evening' on Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 5.30 p.m. over Zoom with a live webcast over Facebook.
SINGAPORE - U 3rd Age virtual tour
Like most locked-down seniors worldwide, life becomes boring staying indoors during the Covid-19 period. Friends of U 3rd Age were luckier to be invited to participate in virtual tours as part of a pilot initiative by the National Gallery Singapore; https://www.nationalgallery.sg/). The docent-led programme of the DBS Singapore Gallery, and the Silver Tours Permanent exhibitions were attended by more than 60 senior participants in July 2020.
COMMENTARY - Dr Padmanabha Vyasamoorthy

I recently read this story>>> about 14 year old Tanvi in Bengaluru who has set up a small business to help senior citizens learn smartphone & laptop etc (for booking cab to online purchases to using zoom skype etc.) by visiting their homes and hand holding. With two more friends in the first year to help her, she earned Rs 26000 charging Rs 500 an hour or Rs 300 for groups. There is good potential for such a service in Hyderabad as well as I frequently get calls for help.

Dr Vyasamoorthy is Webmaster and Vice Chairperson of Indian Society of U3As (ISU3A), and convenor of the ISU3A discussion list [indian-society-for-u3a]