kolkata visiting navanir has become a regular event in chief minister mamata banerjees annual calendar but when she dropped by at the oldage home in chetla on monday it was nothing like what it has been all these years given the pandemic the cm could not meet the residents personally but her indomitable spirit brought some cheer within the boundary walls of the home as she turned the evening into a musical one from interacting with residents to singing performance she made it all happen during her brief stay hereas banerjee walked into the corridor on navanir she instructed to make a seating arrangement at the courtyard so that all residents can interact with them from their rooms she then asked mos information and cultural affairs indrani sen to sing for them sen an accomplished singerm sang joy maa durga joy maa durga a popular song composed by the chief minister on the occasion of sharad utsabi was doubtful whether i can come this year because of the covid situation there will be a rush that might spread the virus and so i made this arrangement i know you all and i love coming to you but as this year is different stay safe and keep others safe banerjee told the residentsshe advised all the aged residents not to step out this durga puja and enjoy from inside the premises she then instructed kolkata mayor and urban development minister firhad hakim to make an arrangement for an idol so that the residents can offer puja inside the premises i want all of you to stay safe wear a mask and see the puja on television she addedwhen asked about the cms arrival navanir president malabika sarkar said she comes here every year this is a pandemic year and she has her hands full to fight the virus but she didnt forget these old people like every year she came with a lot a gifts and inspiration these people wait for the whole year to see her once and she comes here not as a chief minister but as a wellwisherset up by gandhian renuka navanir initially known as navanir naba asha is the states first oldage home for women it was set up in july 1977 at a dilapidated rental accommodation amidst lots of greenery at 30 ashoke avenue presently 272 nsc bose road tollygunge with 30 women the one in chetla is a branch of the original oldage home