'With the change in lifestyle and advancement of medical sciences, the elders are living longer. A breakdown of the traditional joint family system and exorbitant increase in cost of living has drastically reduced the level of economic security of most of the elders,' Radha S. Murthy, managing trustee of the Nightingales Medical Trust, a Bangalore-based NGO working for the cause of senior citizens, told IANS.

'If they are poor, without any financial security, then the problem is more pressing,' added Murthy.

Lalita Ubhayakar, the founder of the voluntary organization Ashvasan Foundation, which works for the elderly people of Bangalore, said the elderly residing in the city's slums are struggling hard to survive each day.

'Many are forced to take to beggary,' she said.

The foundation is now planning to extend its project of feeding senior citizens in the slums throughout Bangalore in a phased manner.

'Six years back we started a project to feed elderly people in the five slums of Bangalore. Now, we want to extend it to other slums also, but in a phased manner. For the project to go in a big way, we need funds,' said Ubhayakar.

Ashvasan, founded in 1993, is currently feeding senior citizens in the slums of MRS Palya, Bhuvaneswari Nagar, Shivajinagar, Vyalikaval and Yelahanka. Approximately 150 senior citizens are being provided food, blankets, clothing, medicines, toiletries and so on regularly, and are also being taught skills like paper-bag making.

'The cost of this is approximately Rs.20,000 per month, and the foundation needs a van to keep on with this daily midday meal distribution,' said Ubhayakar.

'I have been getting meals from Ashvasan for the last six years. I am grateful to them for feeding me, otherwise I would have to beg,' said Krishna Rao, 68, a resident of Bhuvaneswari Nagar.

(Maitreyee Boruah can be contacted at m.boruah@ians.in)