When a person retires he loses his identity and no longer has an active social circle. There is no meaningful activity that he has every morning when he wakes up. All this leads to a deep sense of loneliness and loss of self-image. Even if some people are lucky to live with their children, they realize that everyone is busy with their own lives and have no time or inclination to talk to them. This loneliness leads to depression which in turns leads to many health problems.
Dignity Foundation’s Loneliness Mitigation centres are euphemistically referred to as Chai Masti centres. These centres provide a platform for senior citizens to interact socially, build a support network, boost their self esteem and lead an active life. The centres run from Monday to Friday for 2 hours, usually 4 pm to 6 pm.
Loneliness Mitigation Centres have structured activities to promote :
Social interaction and sharing with peers
Learning new skills
Physical & spiritual well being
Offer a platform to display their talents and get recognition
Some of the key structured activities conducted at the Loneliness Mitigation Centres are :
Guided Tai Chi
Yoga
Bridge, Carom, Chess etc.
Antakshari
Old Hindi Songs/Movie Screening
Indian Dance
Group Singing
Quiz
Games
Talks by doctors, financial experts, lawyers, etc.
Festival Celebrations
Birthday Celebrations
Around 1,000 senior citizens come on a daily basis to the 16 centres across 5 cities – mitigating loneliness and enriching lives. The Chai Masti centres are a a beehive of activity, laughter, learning, bonding, expanding of horizons and most importantly of belonging.
Chai Masti Centres
Mumbai Chai Masti Centres
Mira Road
D.P.Sharma - Mira Road
Canara Education Socitey, Shop No - 41 & 42, Rashmi Park, A2 Building Shanti Park, Mira Road(E) Mumbai 401107
+91 77388 96769
Centre Timings : 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm – Monday to Friday
Grant Road
Namjoshi(Caretaker) - 98211 38906 / 23826833
Wigram Hall, Ground Floor, Vadilal Patel Marg, Opp Shamrao Vithal Marg, Grant Road (E) Mumbai 400007
Darshana Dalal - +91 98208 39872 / 022 23690268
vidyalulla@gmail.com
Centre Timings : 3.45 pm to 5.45 pm - Monday to Friday
Chembur
Ms Darshana Thakkar
ADAPT(Formerly The Spastics society of India) National Job Development Centre, behind St. Gregorios high School, Chembur, Mumbai - 400071
+91 98701 89189
Centre Timings : 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm – Monday to Friday
Dadar
Jyostna P. Gokhale
Nagrik Sangh udyan, Ganesh mandir, Opp. Mayor'S Bunglow, Shivaji Park, Dadar
+91 70210 84328 / 022 24443096
Centre Timings : Mon-Wed-Fri 3.00 pm - 5.00 pm & Tues-Thus 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm
Versova
Ms Ishrat Kumar
Children Welfare Centre Hight School & Jr. College, Opp New India Co-Op Bank , 5th Fr, yari Road, Versova, Andheri (W), Mumbai 400061
+91 98925 58167
Centre Timings : 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm – Monday to Friday
Powai
Mrs. Surekha Kulkarni
Gopal Sharma School, Next to Powai Vihar Bldg, Grd.flr,Nr.Hiranandani, Mumbai - 400076
+91 99699 60691
Centre Timings : 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm – Monday to Friday
Vashi
Mr. Nandkumar Patil, Mr. Rajesh Dudwadkar
Navi Mumbai Bengali Association,Plot.No.25A,Sector-6,Nxt to Marathi Sahitya Mandir,
Nr.Sacred Heart School, Vashi, Navi Mumbai
Telephone : +91 99679 60899, 98678 77601
Centre Timings : 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm – Monday to Friday
Thane
Narendra Joshi
Suprabhat Jyestha Nagrik Sangh,Samtanagar,
Opp.Gagangiri Annexture, Thane(W)
Telephone : +91 94030 48018
Centre Timings : 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm – Monday to Friday
Sealink - Anandyaan
Dilip Chavan
OM SHREE SAINATH SEVA TRUST-Balwadi Nariman Bhatt Nagar,Old Prabhadevi,Mumbai - 400025
Telephone : +91 81085 97568
Centre Timings : 11.00 am to 1.00 pm – Tuesday to Saturday
Byculla - Anandyaan
Dilip Chavan
ANAND YAN-Chintamani Ganesh Mandir Sangharsh Sadan,Anant Ganpat Pawar Lane, Nr.Voltas Ltd., Byculla (E),M-27
Telephone : +91 81085 97568
Centre Timings : 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm – Tuesday to Saturday
Jogeshwari Day Care Centre
Dignity Jeshta Nagrik Kendra, Shiv Krupa Cooperative Housing Society, Datta Tekdi, Jogeshwari-Vikroli Link Road, Jogeshwari East
Telephone : +91 90290 13989
Centre Timings : 8.00 am to 5.00 pm – Tuesday to Saturday
'Tehneer Arangam' - CHENNAI CHAPTER CHAI MASTI CENTRES
Anna Nagar Chai Masti Centre
No.132, old No.52A, AK Block, 7th main road, Anna Nagar, Chennai- 40
Telephone : 044 26210363, 98403 95943, 7550207456
Centre Timings : Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Adyar Chai Masti Centre
Flat No 1&2, Kokila Dwani, new no.4 old no.33, Balakrishna Road, Valmiki Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur Chennai - 41
Telephone : 98403 95943, 7550207456
Centre Timings : 1st Saturday; 3rd Saturday
Abhiramapuram Chai Masti Centre
Oppilal Music School, No.54, 3rd street, Abhiramapuram, Chennai- 18
Telephone : 98403 95943, 7550207456
Centre Timings : Every Friday
Alwarpet Chai Masti Centre
Srinivasa Gandhi Nilayam, No.332, TTK Road, Alwarpet Chennai - 18
Telephone : 98403 95943, 7550207456
Centre Timings : Every Thursday
Delhi NCR's Centres
Dignity DLF Phase 2 Chai Masti Center
Mr Kumar Prashant
DLF Community Centre, DLF Phase-2, K Block, Gurugram - 122002
Telephone : 8802253329
Email : prashant.dignityfoundation@gmail.com
Centre Timings : 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm - Monday to Friday
Dignity Green Park Chai Masti Centre
Ms Susmita Grover
T-20, Ground Floor, Green Park Extension New Delhi 110016
Telephone : 011-26108031; 26108032
Mob : 9999271267
Email : susmita.dignityfoundation@gmail.com
Centre Timings : 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm - Monday to Friday
Dignity National Media Center Chai Masti Center
Pune Centres
Pune
Ms. Madhu Gour
Magarpatta City Chai Masti Centre - Coordinator
Laburnum Park Societys Club House, Magarpatta City, Pune.
Mob : +91 9881259868
Centre Timings : 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm o’clock in the evening
Kolkata Centres
Kolkata
Ms. Kumkum Basu
Chhayar Adda at Kakurguachi - Coordinator
P 72 CIT Road, SCHEME VI M Kolkata - 700054.
For general membership queries, please Whatsapp or call +919152017120 (Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm)