Senior citizens council

The Speaking Pen
(By Reema Bansal)

“I maintain files for all the undertaken activities” smiles Mr. R.K. Jain, President - Founder of Senior Citizens Council, Jagadhri (Haryana). He has a knack of picking up issues that corrode the society and dealing with them head-on.

Take obscenity, for instance. Remember the column ‘Spotlight’ at the left top corner of Tribune’s front page? The space carried one lewd photograph almost every day. However, thanks to the initiatives taken by Mr. R.K. Jain, the column stands scrapped. “It upset me to see a reputed newspaper featuring such items on its front page. Hence, I started writing letters to the editor, expressing my sentiments. Upon persistent reception of these letters, the editor felt compelled to take action.”

A retired Assistant Divisional Manager in Life Insurance Corporation, Mr. R.K. Jain felt the urge to devote his time and energy to community benefit. He started working towards the establishment of a society. This was in 1998. Today, hundred members meet up regularly and express their concerns. These are communicated to relevant authorities in written, till it fetches the desired outcome.

After continued correspondence with The Tribune, and backed by positive feedback, Mr. R.K. Jain launched a full-fledged crusade against obscenity. He began writing to Dainik Bhaaskar, Indian Express and Punjab Kesari. The publications are eighty per cent less profane now. “An entire generation rides on the same boat. Why pollute these young minds?” He asks in a passionate voice.

The next agenda was in tune with the name of the society. Tales of sons killing fathers and daughters shunning mothers plagued his mind. However, it served no purpose merely expressing regret over them. He felt that the criminal sons should lose their share of inheritance from their parent’s property. Laws were proposed, all through letters to editors. The ball started rolling. Now, further clauses are being added to the bill. It’s also hoped that people in old age homes would be entitled to monetary compensation by their kids.

There are times the man feels let down, publications don’t respond, or political hassles created. But the force of his emotions and grit spur him on. Dr. Bansal, a close friend, comments, “The enthusiasm and genuineness rub off on you. I don’t remember a single meeting with him, that didn’t leave me motivated.”

One of the recent ideas picked up was ‘Highlighting the strengths of Pratibha Patil, our newly elected President’. While most of the media presented her as a rubber stamp, Mr. R.K. Jain managed to notice some very desirable qualities. Hence began a post-card campaign to highlight the same. The post cards mentioned her ‘Indian way of dressing, talking, and behaving’. “I don’t know the lady in person. But, as a citizen of India, I felt compelled to bring her positive qualities to notice. Her persona exudes Indian-ness.” The 75 year old told the author.

When asked about his gains from these written campaigns, he calmly says, “Being useful to society is a profit in itself. The Council is a public platform, and I’ll keep working through it in as much capacity as I can.”