In perhaps the first event of kinds the LionClub of Margao Service Trust - shri
Naryan Rajaram Bandekar - Senior Citizens Recreation Centre Perpetual
Apartments Pedda in Margao +91 0832 -2700886 or 2736109 +91 9422058741 an unit
supported by the Department of Social Welfare Government of Goa organised
organised the late lion B R Yaje Memorial "All Goa Senior Citizens Singing
Competition 2008. The participants were divided in two Groups -1 those aged 60
years and above and -II those 50 - 60 years.
Interestingly in todays' 10th February,2008 finals held at the Bernardo Peres
Silva ( BPS- Sports Club )there were seven in the Group II and 10 in the Group
I.
Most of the participants sang Hindi songs from Bollywood while others sang
Marathi and Konkani songs. The oldest participant of the evening was Ms
Salavaco Martins 83 from Chinchinim presently putting up in the Care for the
Old -- a Home for the aged at Sonarvaddo Raia. She sang much to the
appreciation of the gathering a song dedicated to the Saint Francis Xavier
which moved the audience and she received a thunderous applaud for her efforts.
She was awarded a special prize of Rs.500/- by the organisors to commend her
undying spirit and performance.
Other winners were 1st prize Sashikant Sardessai Rs.5000/- 2nd prize
Chandrakant Arolkar Rs.3000/- and Remedios D Silva (an ex Executive of
Hospicio Margao )Rs 2000/- In the Group II the 2nd prize was shared by Joao
Fernandes and Suhas Kamat while the first prize went to Mr Milind Mardolkar.
Interestingly all the participants of todays were given complimentaries on
behalf of some commercial firms sponsoring the event.
Speaking on the ocassion Dr Celso Fernandes complimented the NSS volunteers of
RMS College Comba Margao who surveyed the periphery of the Centre i.e in and
around Margao and came to the grim reality that there were around 600 senior
citizens most of whom were ignorant of the Goa Government's schemes available
to the senior citizens. Further that 90% of these senior citizens were
diabetic patients this was an alarming relevation and indeed speaks volumes of
the need of love and care for our senior citizens.
The Chief officer of Margao Municipal Council Mr N D Agarwal the Chief Guest
came in for special praise as during his earlier stewardship of the Directorate
of Social Welfare he had indeed rendered tremendous assistance to see the
setting up of this Centre which infact was the vision of late Lion B R Yaji who
left for his heavenly abode before this unique of its kind Centre was set up on
1st July 2007 at the hands of our Chief Minister Mr Digamber Kamat.
Guest of Honour Mr Vijay D Souza Chief Correspondent of Herald complimented the
organisors for this unique event unheard of in the post liberation history of
Goa and enthused the organisors to organise a bigger function, given that this
event itself had several participants most of whom were knocked off in the
first round held some weeks ago.
The function commenced at 1648 hrs and ended at 0655 hrs. The local channel HCN
covered the event to be telecast in a day or two for public viewing.
Sidelights of the event:
a) the high decibel music was not befitting the function for senior citizens
b) some around the gathering expressed surprise that an event of this kind with
high decibel music was being conducted in the Club which has over the years
been banned for marriages and dances or other cultural events. Are there
exemptions one wondered.
c) tea and snacks were given free to the participants while others had to pay
for it.
d) the surprise entry fee "donation pass" of Rs.100/- was too exhorbitant
considering that this was an event that the Directorate of Art and Culture had
sponsored, it was disheartening to see many senior citizens who hardly do not
have such financial resources return.
e) this writer besides paying for his own fare was moved by these senior
citizens and volunteered to pay up their fares as they had come all the way
from Mapusa.
f) one lady participant who qualified for the finals though present could not
take stage upon medical advice but waited to watch her colleagues partake in
the event.
g) some senior citizens brought to the notice of this writer that many of those
in the Old Age Homes could have been brought to the venue as this would enthuse
them to partake in such events and make their lives enjoyable. The Department
of Art and Culture could sponsor the transport costs of such citizens from
various parts of Goa to allow for a fair participation.
h) at least one senior citizen has agreed to organise a similar event on a more
grander scale given that several pharmaceutical firms and optical firms were
ready to sponsor such events.
i) many of the senior citizens had their hairs heavily dyed making them suspect
of being senior citizens- but in a country where one's date of births can be
fudged for all ocassions - this event must have also witnessed some.
GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES,
BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA)
+91 98221 58584 (24 HRS)
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