For many elderly people, growing old brings loneliness and long days of silent suffering. For those living in slum communities, old age is even harder.
Angoori is one of them. She is seventy years old and lives alone in Ambedkar Basti. Years ago, she lost her husband. Though she had three sons, none were able to care for her. One separated from her completely. One struggled with severe alcohol addiction. The youngest died last year, and his wife returned to her parental home with the children.
Angoori was left completely alone. “I have children,” she says quietly, “but they do not visit me.” Her small, dark shanty lets in very little sunlight. In this unsafe space, she suffered a serious fall and fractured her arm. For nearly five months, she lived alone with her arm in a plaster cast, struggling to cook, take medicines, and manage daily life.
During a routine visit, an Asha community health volunteer learned about her condition. Seeing her vulnerability, Asha stepped in. Through the Love and Lunch programme, a nutritious meal began arriving at her door each day. Along with food came care, dignity, and human connection. Slowly, she recovered and began visiting the Asha centre again. She found warmth, conversation, and the comfort of being seen.
Then life tested her once more. While collecting her monthly government food support, Angoori Amma suffered another fall, injuring her leg and back. She has since been confined to bed.
Once again, Asha stood by her side. Daily meals continue to reach her home. Monthly food packet ensure she does not go hungry. Asha ambassadors and children from the children’s groups visit her regularly, help with small chores, and pool their pocket money to buy medicines, blankets, and a mattress.
Angoori Amma still lives alone, but she is no longer forgotten. Asha has become her extended family, offering food, care, dignity, and human connection.
Love and Lunch supports more than 120 elderly, malnourished, and chronically ill people across slum communities. It stands as a living expression of compassion in action, transforming hunger into nourishment, isolation into connection, and neglect into care. For the elderly, Love and Lunch is not just a programme. It is a lifeline.
