Lakshita, who is 15 years old, said that she was inspired to make the documentary after reading about the increasing number of abandoned senior citizens in India.
Lakshita Popli
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Lakshita Popli, a student of DPS, RK Puram, with a mission to bring changes in the lives of senior citizens, is all set to showcase a documentary on the helplessness of abandoned senior citizens. The documentary, titled “Mind to Heart”, highlights the plight of elderly people who are left alone and without any support from their families.
"I was shocked to learn that there are so many elderly people who are living on the streets or in old-age homes," she said. "I wanted to make a film that would raise awareness about this issue and hopefully inspire people to help these forgotten members of our society."
Interviews with several elderly people who have been abandoned by their families will be featured in the documentary. They talk about the challenges they face in their daily lives, such as finding food, shelter, and medical care. They also discuss the emotional pain of being abandoned by loved ones. Lakshita devoted many weeks to writing the script and developing such an idea.
Lakshita, along with the guidance of her mentor Yashi Shukla, tied up with 12 NGOs and is all set to showcase the documentary to children and parents to raise awareness about the issue of elderly neglect and abandonment. Lakshita attempted to convey such issues in the documentary through various elements such as interviews with several senior citizens who were abandoned by their families. Primarily, the elements of the documentary are the articles and research papers written by her based on “The Impact of Social Isolation and Loneliness on the Mental Health of Older Adults" that are under review by Stanford University alumni.
Speaking about her project, Lakshita said, "I wanted to shed light on this issue because it is often overlooked. We tend to forget that our parents and grandparents have sacrificed so much for us, and they deserve our love and support in their old age."
At such a young age, Lakshita has set an example for all the young people who think they are too small to talk about such change on this sensitive issue. As a child, she reflects a great vision and value. She is continuously taking further steps to encourage awareness by working on research papers and articles that encourage such steps. Soon she will be releasing Youtube videos that are based on senior citizens to spread her message and ensure that elders are treated well.
Lakshita is upfront about connecting and discussing the problems faced by the elders; such steps also help her brainstorm various ideas to build a support system. Her documentary is a powerful reminder of the importance of caring for our elderly citizens. It is a call to action for all of us to do our part in supporting those who have given so much to us. In a busy world where everyone is moving forward quickly, it's not common to find a child who wants to take a moment to look back at the people who have done a lot for the world already. This child treats them with kindness and tries to understand what troubles them.
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