‘YOU CAN’T PUT A PRICE ON GOOD COMPANY’

Bhagyalata Das is a retired lawyer and mother of three from Gurgaon. She was born with a shrunken right arm, and at 52, a road accident left her confined to a wheelchair. “But nothing hampered my free-spiritedness,” says Das.

It’s only now, that she finds herself alone at home all day, that she has reached out for help.

“My passion is knitting,” she says. “And I realise that my son and daughter-in-law cannot sit here and go through patterns with me or keep me occupied.”

They both run their own business; her other children are in Bangalore and London.

So, three years ago, the 72-year-old decided to sign up with Samvedna to have someone come over and keep her company for a few hours a week. The cost ranges from ₹13,000 to ₹20,000 a month.

“Though she has been an independent woman all her life, she now feels the need for some company as she is ageing,” says Asheem Rath, her son.

Four times a week, Das and her companion read together, play board games, watch funny YouTube videos or surf the internet for knitting designs.

“I have something new to look forward to every day,” she says. “At this age, when most of us lose hope, these young volunteers add another element to our lives. It feels good to see that the young still enjoy time with us. The time I spend with them is precious and can’t be compared with the money spent.”