An inclusive initiative

At home, we have often seen how the senior citizens often suffer to feel included into the new world of digital technology. Due to the pandemic, never ever have the elderly felt more excluded as going online seems to be the only way to survive.

Be it sending messages on Whatsapp or clicking a picture or ordering food online or things online,  banking, paying bills, getting medicines or even using Google Maps, creating an email account or using video calling apps, the seniors are having a tough time.

According to a survey conducted before the coronavirus-induced lockdown by Helpage India, 60% of elders felt that their children do not have time to help them with technology-related lessons. This social exclusion had also led to problems of anxiety and loneliness amongst them.

26-year-old Mahima Bhalotia from  Mumbai has set up The Social Paathshaala, where she conducts online sessions on digital learning for her special students who are aged above 50.

These virtual sessions are organised every Sunday from 11 am to 12:30 pm and charged at Rs.99 per person for one session. Those interested can reach out over a call or through a WhatsApp text. After a discussion with the interested candidates, they get to join the sessions for the topics they like and choose. The topics range from basic to intermediate concepts about social media and the digital world.

So you have senior citizens at home and you don’t have the time and the patience, maybe you can help them connect to The Social Paathshaala.