Mumbai couple runs free tiffin service for elderly, serves over 100 everyday
The couple provides cooked meals for free to 110 senior citizens (Damyanti and Pradeep Tanna, Picture Courtesy: sntctrust.com)
In a country where millions of people starve for food everyday, a middle-aged Mumbai couple is doing their bit by running a free tiffin service for over 100 abandoned senior citizens.
The couple, Damayanti and her husband Pradeep Tanna, started the service after losing their son in a train accident in 2011. Their 18-year-old son, Nimesh, lost his life after hitting a pole during his daily train commute.
The Tanna’s contemplated selling their assets and leaving the city after the tragic incident. But the Shri Nimesh Tanna Charitable Trust, named after their son, gave them a new purpose in life.
“We were broken after our son’s death and didn’t know what to do. We decided to not just live life, but also keep our son’s memory alive. After one and half years, my wife suggested that we do this,” Pradeep told ANI.
The couple started by serving a handful citizens in 2012. Five years later, they are yet to skip a meal and serve around 110 senior citizens in their area.
“We provide cooked meals to 110 senior citizens and every month we provide food grains to 100 people so that they can cook food themselves. We also provide clothes, books, stationery items to needy kids in tribal areas,” Damayanti told the agency.
“We decided to serve free dabbas (lunch boxes) to elderly people, who have been abandoned by their children or have lost their children or dear ones like us or are staying alone,” she added.
The couple often receives some help from friends and relatives, but handles operations on their own. Some of their local vendors, like the vegetable seller, also lend a hand by selling goods at cost.
Another commendable aspect of the trust is that it never differentiates between class, creed or religion.
“We never differentiate between caste, creed or religion. We provide food only to those, who are above 60 years of age and need food. We have been doing this for the last five years,” Pradeep added.
A #Mumbai couple runs tiffin services since last 5 yrs for senior citizens in memory of their son who died in a train accident in 2011 pic.twitter.com/ouOvsAAqOq
— ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2017
