Assam CM Sarma Orders Probe into Mother Old Age Home Feud between Co-Founders

GUWAHATI:

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has directed Social Welfare Minister Ajanta Neog to look into the dispute between Monica Sarma and Utpal Harshvardhan, co-founders of Mother Old Age Home.

Both Monica Sarma and Utpal Harshvardhan had been strong pillars of the old age home, but owing to a conflict between the two founder members, the lives of all the elderly people living at the shelter home have become uncertain within a week. 

The elderly folks staying at the shelter home in Guwahati have chosen to go to Pramod Talukdar Memorial Trust under Monalisa Society in the Beltola region due to the ongoing feud between the two founder members of the Mother old age home. 

Utpal Harshavardhan and Monica Sarma established the Mother old age home, a well-known refuge home for the elderly in the city, on June 21, 2012. 

According to reports, Utpal Harshavardhan purportedly stated in a social media post that he had no concerns with his co-founder Monica Sharma and so decided to leave the shelter home.

He said, "I have already replied whatever allegations were put against me by Monica and I will keep doing that. I will be there for all kinds of query regarding Mother old home."

Utpal further voiced his dissatisfaction with media reports saying that the ashram (old age home) will be taken over by either an organisation headquartered in Guwahati's Sijubari or the government.

"Though the ashram is an organization, but, it's a house full of emotion, peace and dignity. Our main duty is to serve the elders as well as to respect their thoughts," added Utpal.

Several senior citizens living at the shelter home have not eaten properly in the previous several days, according to one of the caregivers at the mother old age home.

"We cannot reside in such conditions where police and media persons come to disturb us. There is no more peace in this environment, thus, we have decided to shift with Utpal," said one of the senior citizen.

The Assam government is sensitive to the social security of the elderly, who rely on their homes. Taking into consideration the current circumstances, the chief minister has instructed Biswajit Pegu, DC Kamrup (Metro), to investigate the case and submit a report within 72 hours.  

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