Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 27: In a distressing revelation that has sent shockwaves across the capital, 39 elderly individuals were rescued from a privately-run old-age home in Noida Sector 55, after visuals of inhumane conditions surfaced on social media. The old-age home, Anand Niketan Vridha Ashram, was raided by the State Women’s Commission and Noida police on Thursday, exposing an appalling case of neglect, abuse, and exploitation.
A viral video that triggered the operation showed a frail elderly woman locked in a room with her hands tied. On reaching the premises, officials were horrified to discover senior citizens confined to rooms, some half-naked, others lying in urine- and feces-stained clothes, and no trained medical staff to care for them.
"It was nothing short of a prison. Some men were found locked in dark basement-like spaces, while women were barely clothed. The stench was unbearable," said Meenakshi Bharala, a member of the State Women's Commission, who was part of the rescue mission.
Shockingly, the ashram, which presented itself as a care facility, was allegedly extorting money from families—taking Rs 2.5 lakh in donations along with a monthly fee of Rs 6,000 per person for food and lodging. Yet, the facilities offered were horrifyingly substandard.
To add insult to injury, the woman who identified herself as a "nurse" at the facility had only completed Class 12, with no formal medical training, raising grave questions about the safety of the residents and the legitimacy of the ashram’s operations.
Authorities have now filed a criminal case against the operators of Anand Niketan Vridha Ashram. The rescued elderly individuals will be relocated to a government-run shelter in the coming days, where proper care and medical attention will be provided.
The incident has sparked outrage and prompted calls for stringent regulation and regular inspections of private old-age homes. Many activists and citizens took to social media, demanding justice and accountability for the gross violation of human dignity witnessed in the heart of Noida.
As investigations deepen, officials have vowed to ensure such a tragedy is never repeated, and those responsible for the systematic abuse of the elderly face the full force of the law.