KOCHI: It was a memorable day out for a group of senior citizens, mostly women, from far-off Nedumpuram grama panchayat in Pathanamthitta district, who travelled all the way to Kochi to experience the modern transportation systems in the city. A majority of them, including widows, were experiencing a Kochi Metro ride and sailing in the Water Metro for the first time.
Thanks to ‘Sneha Vazhi’, the first-of-its-kind tour programme for senior citizens for which the small grama panchayat has tied up with the Budget Tourism Cell of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC).
A total of 60 senior citizens, including panchayat president T Prasanna Kumari, vice-president Sylesh Mangattu and 78-year-old Pappi Kochukunje, the eldest of them all, were part of the free one-day tour arranged by the panchayat.
“This is the first time a panchayat has tied up with the KSRTC to provide free ride to Kochi and experience the Kochi Metro and Water Metro. We started the Kochi visit, though, from the Hill Palace Museum. We had a good homely lunch from the corporation’s Janakeeya Hotel ‘Samridhi’.
After visiting the historic destinations of Mattancherry and Fort Kochi, we had dinner from the Indian Coffee House, before heading back to our village,” Prasanna Kumari told TNIE.
The tour was part of an ICDS project approved to enhance the mental health of senior citizens. “Since it’s the government fund, we tried to avail of the services of public sector enterprises. This can be a role model for other panchayats to follow. Though I have visited Kochi before, it’s my first metro ride. None of us had travelled in a Water Metro so far,” she added.
In fact people like Pappi are visiting Kochi for the first time. “It was Tiruvalla town, the farthest that I had visited before this trip. It was fun all the way, travelling with people of our age group,” Pappi said.
Since the group consisted of senior citizens, a health inspector and a PHC nurse had accompanied the group with medical devices.
“We took them too as a precaution. Luckily all went smoothly and there was no need for their intervention,” said vice-president Sylesh Mangattu, who is one of 11 men in the group. “KSRTC took special care to act as a guide and enhance the experience of the visitors. We hope other local bodies will follow suit,” said Sunil Kumar R, state coordinator, KSRTC (budget tourism).
Under the ‘Sneha Vazhi’ project, three elderly citizens were chosen from each of the 13 wards for the tour.