Maharashtra: Alibaug-Virar multi-corridor project threatens old age home

The land acquisition for the much talked about AlibaugVirar multicorridor project has put the Dhore brothers worried and concerned about the safety and shelter of thirtytwo elderly bedridden senior citizens and twelve staff who stay with themThe ground plus twofloor structure primarily funded by public contributions and charity is now obstructing the mega projects progress Authorities have notified them to arrange for alternative accommodationsWhere do we goSantosh 52 and Ishwar Dhore 48 siblings have operated the Karuneshwar Old Age Care House for elderly and dependent individuals in Bhangar Post Waje and Panvel Taluka since 2009 Initially they ran it from a temporary location in Chipla village Panvel before relocating to a twostory building in 2014Santosh Dhore and his younger brother Ishwar Dhore who run the old age homeldquoI have sent over thirty letters to various departments including the MMRDA MSRDC Raigad collectors office and even to the PWD department at Mantralaya informing them of our willingness to surrender our property for the national project However we request that instead of monetary compensation the relevant departmentstate government should provide us with a similarly constructed building We lack the financial means and ability to obtain all necessary permissions required for construction at a new location which the government may allocate to us under land acquisition normsrdquo said the Dhore brothersSince the commencement of the Navi Mumbai International Project both land and construction prices have increased significantly The current building of our centre sits on a land parcel of four gunthas which I Santosh purchased in 2003 at a rate of Rs 10500 per guntha amounting to approximately R40500 for the entire parcel We have come to know that the government is offering around Rs 325 lakhs per guntha under land acquisition However with these escalated prices it would be impossible for us to afford to purchase an alternate piece of land and construct shelter homesDifficult childhoodThe Dhore brothers originally from Gadchiroli district lost their mother in 1983 when they were young Their father afflicted with leprosy feared societal rejection and sent them to an orphanage for basic education Santosh continued his education in Nagpur after leaving the orphanage while Ishwar studied and worked at Baba Amtes institution in Anandwan caring for patients after completing class 10We experienced the hardship of losing our parents early and enduring a challenging childhood deprived of their love and care Sleeping at railway stations sometimes even without food shaped our determination to carry on with social work a legacy ingrained in us from growing up at Shantivan and Anandwanrdquo the brothers recalledBirth of the centreIt was in 2009 that a person came to Ishwar and requested him to take care and of his mother Rehubhai BhandaryId never faced such a responsibility before But when a man shared his personal struggles unable to care for his bedridden paralysed mother I reached out for help Thanks to KC Babus generosity he provided a room where we could look after Rehubhai until her final daysrdquo said IshwarldquoWord spread and more families sought help for their elderly relatives unable to meet their medical needs The turning point came when a woman in her fifties balancing work and caregiving reached out With just two years until retirement she couldnt manage her mothers care alongside her job Ishwar and Santosh moved by her plight decided to establish a center Santosh generously donated four gunthas of land to build a home for the elderlyrdquo Ishwar addedWhen asked if they charge money for the shelter the brother said ldquoWe charge a nominal amount for lodging and boarding from those who can afford and those who cannot and are needy we provide free service We have come through the hard way and making money is not our intent Our only aim is to take care of the destitute and elderly who are left in the lurch by their loved onesrdquoMajor set backLast month the brothers received a reply to their request sent to the Revenue department Panvel who categorically rejected their request which has put the brothers in a fixWere caring for thirtytwo elderly aged 60 to 80 plus some bedridden some with Alzheimers and dementia Many have nowhere else to go Despite their distress their comforting gestures give us hope and strengthrdquo said the brothersWhy to voteThe brothers do not want to miss their democratic right to vote We have yet to decide on whom and which party to vote for Our vote will be for the political party and leader who are concerned about elderly senior citizens and protect their right to shelter and treatment with care2009The year the brothers began caring for an elderly patient