PROJECT ISR

HELPAGE INDIA
(FIGHTING ISOLATION,POVERTY,NEGLECT)

MEGHNA MOHANDAS NAYAK

LPGD/0CT13/0186

PRIN.L.N. HELPAGE INDIALINKAR INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT

RESEARCH

YEAR OF SUBMISSION:-AUG 2014

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Concentration, dedication and application are necessary but not sufficient to achieve any goal
.They must be awarded by guidance, assistant and cooperation of some people to make it enable.

Gratitude is short lived but when put it black and white, one hopes it to enjoy a longer life.
Many people have given their valuable time and ideas to enable us to complete our project and
project report.Iamdeeply indebted to all for their ideas and assistance, and I bear the entire
responsibility for HelpAge Indiaakness in the project,if any.

I am highly obliged to express my praise and profound thanks

to_____________________(Project Guide) for his/her expert guidance and cooperation.

Lastly I would like to thank all those, who have,directly or indirectly, helped me in making the
project.

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 CONTENTS

SR.NO TOPIC PAGE NO.

1.

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 HelpAge India

Type 12A, 80G

Founded 1978

Founder(s) Mr. Jackson Cole, Samson Daniel

C-14 Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi-110016,

Headquarters India

Area served India

Focus(es) Helping the Elderly

Motto Fighting isolation, poverty, neglect

HelpAge
HelpAge India
Indiabsite

Mission
To work for the cause and care of disadvantaged older persons and to improve their quality of
life.

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VISION
HelpAge envisions a society where elderly have the Right to an active, healthy and dignified
life. HelpAge India are integrating its programmes and services, and consciously moving from
HelpAge Indialfare towards development and long term sustainability for seniors. HelpAge India
are working closely with Senior Citizen Associations and encouraging seniors to speak up for
their own rights.

HelpAge India are actively working as a pressure group and focusing on Elder Rights such as the
Right to adequate Health Insurance, Right to Universal Pension and working towards providing
elders a society with age appropriate services. In our continuing fight against poverty, isolation
and neglect of elders though HelpAge India have made significant strides, but they are just a
drop in the ocean.

TECHNOLOGY MODEL FOR MONITORING DELIVERY

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NETWORK LIST
Ahmedabad (Gujarat)
Goa
Bengaluru (Karnataka)
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh)
Bhubaneshwar (Odisha)
Chandigarh
Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
Cuddalore (Tamil Nadu)
Dehradun (Uttarakhand)
Guwahati (Assam)
Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh)
Jaipur (Rajasthan)
Jammu (Jammu & Kashmir)
Kochi (Kerala)
Kolkata (West Bengal)
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh)
Mumbai (Maharashtra)
Nagpur (Maharashtra)
New Delhi
Patna (Bihar)
Pune (Maharashtra)
Puducherry
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh)
Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir)

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NETWORKS

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Page 8
HISTORY
What began as a humble initiative from a rented two-room office in New Delhis Kasturba
Gandhi Marg has now blossomed into an extensive operation spread across 26 states with 90
project offices in India and headquartered at the capitals Qutab Institutional Area. HelpAge
India came into being in 1978 with Cecil Jackson Cole, founder of HelpAge International (UK),
as its first President. Around this time two other men figured prominently in the HelpAge India
story - John F. Pearson & Samson Daniel.

Constant endowments, from the United Kingdom HelpAge Indiare something both Pearson and
Cole felt would not be practical in the long run. They realized that they needed to think out of the
box so that charities in the developing world could continue to have a regular inflow of funds
and to make a positive and lasting impact.

In March 1974, when Cole, visited India, an intrepid philanthropist named Samson Daniel
approached him for financial help to set up a member organisation in Delhi. A far-sighted man,
Cole instead offered to train him to raise funds. After a three month training course in London,
Mr. Daniel and his wife returned to India and organized a sponsored walk with schoolchildren in
Delhi. It was so successful that in 1975 HelpAge International recruited more staff to cover
Bombay, Madras and Calcutta.

In April 1978, HelpAge India was officially registered in Delhi. Pearson became a Trustee of the
organisation and a key member of its Governing Board. Philip Jackson, one of the founder
members of HelpAge International came on board in 1978 as HelpAge Indias first Chief
Executive. Within three months it became autonomous as financial support ceased from UK.
Soon after, in July, the Society was awarded Certificates of Exemption under Sections 12A and
80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961, thus indicating general confidence in the Societys affairs.

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A NEW FORCE OF CHANGE
The year 1980 saw the advent of an individual who was to become an integral part of the
HelpAge story and its driving force. Madan Mohan Sabharwal was born on August 21, 1922.
Happily married, tragedy struck when his wife died, leaving him a widoHelpAge at the age of
51. Sabharwal began to focus his attention, and his many skills, on promoting the cause of the
aged. He took over the reins as President of HelpAge Indias Governing Body in 1986-87
succeeding John F. Pearson. Today he continues to be an integral part of HelpAge as its
President Emeritus.

Sabharwal came from a rich corporate background, so the charitable sector was relatively new to
him, but he made efforts to know about its inner workings and felt that changes at the
Government policy level HelpAge Indiare imperative for a long sustaining impact on the lives of
Indias elderly. He later HelpAge Indians on to join the four-member committee set up by the
Government to review the National Policy on Older Persons.

THEN & NOW

When HelpAge India was formed in 1978, there HelpAge Indiare 33 million older persons in
India without a dedicated body to voice their concerns, take an interest in their health or fulfill
their potential to lead dignified, healthy and secure lives. The number of senior citizens has since
HelpAge Indialled to 100 million and still counting. By 2030, the population of the elderly is
projected to hit the 200 million mark!

Over the last three decades, HelpAge has put HelpAge Indialfare and developmental
programmes in place and fought for the rights of aged older people so that they can be
economically and physically secure. HelpAge India had, a lot more needs to be done, a fact that
HelpAge India recognizes considering the alarming statistics that confront todays senior
citizens.

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ACTIVITIES
HelpAge runs a variety of programmes benefiting the disadvantaged elderly. Though its focus
remains primarily on the destitute elder for whom most of its services are in place, it also works
with and for the urban elder who face isolation and neglect on a large scale. Here below is a
glimpse of the kind of programmes HelpAge supports & runs:

Mobile Medical Units (MMU)

In a nation where the reach of the public health facilities is dismal and where private health care
is prohibitively expensive, the old in their post retirement years face enormous difficulty in
accessing any kind of medical attention. In addition to this is the problem of near absence of
geriatric medical skill and treatment. There are over 80 million elders over the age of 80 in the
country, almost totally bereft of specialised attention that they require. The situation that
HelpAge India faces in reaching its Health Care outreach programme to the elderly in urban and
rural areas is truly challenging.

Mobile Healthcare Programme

What HELPAGE Is Doing

Mission Objective

To reach basic healthcare to one million disadvantaged rural and urban people, particularly the
elderly in under-served communities, especially in remote geographical location and difficult
terrain.

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In the next two years establish and operate at least one MMU in each of the poorest 200 districts
(not including existing 87 districted already covered) of the country and extend it over the next
three years to cover all 621 districts.

Operations

The HelpAge mobile health services are designed to reach free healthcare to disadvantaged
elders in rural and urban areas. On-site services include doctor consultation, basic diagnostics,
medicines and home visits for bedridden patients. Linkage to local health facilities ensures
referrals to specialist doctors. The medical team consists of a doctor, pharmacist, paramedic,
patient facilitator and is supervised by a qualified social worker.

Typically, each MMU works six days a week, reaching the first site around 9.00 AM and works
till 5 PM. It covers a cluster of 10-15 community sites/villages on a weekly schedule averaging
200 km per week. Thus, each MMU targets to reach medical services to 100-150 patients per day
in remote rural locations and around 200 patients in urban areas. Annually, each MMU provides
approximately 30,000 treatments.

Cataract Surgeries
Key facts

81 per cent of blind cases in India is due to cataract

2 million new cases of cataract are reported every year in India
1 ophthalmologist for 100,000 people in India
60-69 year olds are at 2.74 times greater risk of losing vision
70+ are at 4.86 times greater risk of losing vision

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HelpAge partners with HelpMeSee

HelpAge has partnered with US based HelpMeSee for a special campaign. Every year thousands
of cataract surgeries are performed all over India through a network of specialized hospitals and
organizations dedicated and working for eye care. Through this partnership with HelpMeSee,
HelpAge hopes to increase its reach furthermore and restore sight to more and more destitute
elders."

What HELPAGE Is Doing

In the last 30 years, HelpAge India has supported nearly 850,000 surgeries on poor and needy
older persons by partnering with nearly 400 organizations (eye hospitals, trusts, NGOs). Every
year, more than 20000 cataract surgeries are performed all over the country with support from
HelpAge India through credible and competent Eye Hospitals; and organisations working in the
field of eye-care. The project includes awareness generation in the community, the catchment
area of the organization, on eye care, prevention of eye diseases/infections, precautions to be
taken during infections etc.

Programme Protocol

Credible and competent eye hospitals and organisations working for eye care are selected for
carrying out the surgeries with HelpAge Indias support. All surgeries under the programme are
performed only in base hospitals and not in make-shift camps. A medical team of doctors and
paramedical staff is designated by the project partners for attending to all technical aspects of the
camp, decisions regarding treatment of eye diseases, cases for operations, follow up of operated
patients, reporting and documentation.

Cancer Care
The single greatest risk factor for developing cancer is ageing. Prolonged exposure to
carcinogens, reduced DNA repairing ability, genetic instability, decreased carcinogens

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metabolism and decreased immune surveillance dramatically increase the incidence of cancer in
the elderly. In India demographically this population is increasing - a 280 percent increase in
cancer rate is expected to occur by 2050.

Cancer treatment in our country is highly priced and health insurance only benefits the upper and
middle classes. In most cancer hospitals, needy elderly patients have to wait for months for
diagnosis, preparing funds, seeking expert opinion and getting appointments from surgeons.
Insufficient cancer treatment facilities and lack of early screening, resulting from poor public
health system in the country has led to large numbers of cancer cases being reported too late for
them to benefit from any long term treatment.

What HELPAGE Is Doing

For Helpage India the biggest challenge has been to provide sustained healthcare intervention for
needy elderly cancer patients. Even the most basic cancer treatment lasts for at least a year. As
the treatment costs are very high, many cancer patients are not able to finish a complete cancer
treatment programme. What is more heart breaking is that many elderly who are unable to collect
the necessary funds for cancer treatment dont opt for treatment at all.

Programme Protocol

HelpAge India has been in partnership with number of credible and competent cancer hospitals
and organisations for carrying out cancer treatments which include cancer surgeries, radiation
and chemotherapy. These partners also conduct cancer awareness and cancer detection camps.
Thus from cancer detection and treatment our partners have been able to deliver quality cancer
care for elders in need of such intervention. Ever since HelpAge India began its intervention in
Cancer Care for the elders, it has given support of more than Rs. 6.73 Crores to 29 hospitals and
institutions in 11 states across the country. 25,000 Elderly have been screened for cancer and
over 10,000 treatments provided. The target for next five years is to provide cancer treatment for
2000 needy elderly cancer patients.

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PhysioCare
Every individual hopes to live an independent life with dignity and carry out daily activities of
their life, unassisted. However, the natural process of ageing is accompanied by host of
degenerative physical problems such as reduced muscle power and tone, reduced range of
motion and bone density.

With this in mind, HelpAge India provides physiocare that is aimed at enabling and supporting
the elderly to maintain their fitness and mobility level, enhance their independence in Activities
of Daily Living (ADL) as well as improve their self-confidence and self-esteem.

PhysioCare Programme

What HELPAGE Is Doing

Geriatric Physiotherapy is one of the most successful programmes implemented in both urban
and rural areas of the country. The services rendered treat elderly persons with musculoskeletal
diseases such as back pain, arthritis and even paralysis and other age related mobility challenges.

Field of operation

The physiotherapy clinics are operational in 70 locations all over the country in 23 states and are
open six days a week from 9:15 AM to 5:15 PM on weekdays, and from 10 AM to 2 PM on
Saturdays. The services are provided through stationary clinics, mobile services to remote
communities, residents of homes for the aged and elders living at home.

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Programme Protocol

Physiotherapists are duly qualified and registered with the IAP (Indian Association of
Physiotherapists); patient registration cards are maintained by the clinic for records and clinical
research; monthly reports are sent to HI head office along with case studies.

Support a Gran
Thousands of elderly, living in both urban and rural areas, have to make do with inadequate
medical facilities; many of them are living below the poverty line. This segment includes, in
addition to impoverished elderly men and women, widows who are illiterate older than 60 years.
They are one of the most disadvantaged sections in the Indian society. The situation is grim for
old people in our society. If there is no intervention now, the situation will only get worse.

What HELPAGE Is Doing

Supporting the basic needs of Elders

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Known earlier as Adopt-a-Gran, Support-a-Gran, is HelpAge Indias way of extending a lifeline
of support for elders with no family, financial or social support. Under this program, donors
sponsor the basic needs of eldery people.

Moving Towards Income Generation

To help elderly citizens live with a sense of dignity, HelpAge India began to shift slowly towards
implementing livelihood support programs.

HelpAge India launched development programmes aimed at involving elderly persons in income
generation through the revival and upgradation of traditional crafts, cottage industries and animal
husbandry units. The major thrust of the programmes remains that of organising the elderly as a
group and increasing their participation in individual and group based income generating
activities. They are involved in procuring raw materials, managing the production process, and in
marketing the finished products through Apni Dukans which are self managing and self-
sustaining units of production. Small-scale enterprises were set up candle making in Bhopal,
Madhya Pradesh and carpet-weaving in Bhadoi, Uttar Pradesh being just two examples.
Revolving loans facilitated these small enterprises to enable a life of dignity for many senior
citizens.

Oldage Homes
At present 95 million people in India are above the age of 60, by the year 2025 nearly 80 million
more will be added to this population bracket. With improved life expectancy rate in our country,
its estimated that as many as 8 million people are currently above the age of 80 years. Changing
family value system, economic compulsions of the children, neglect and abuse has caused elders
to fall through the net of family care. Homes for the Aged are ideal for elderly people who are
alone, face health problems, depression and loneliness.

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Home for the Aged

WHAT IS HELPAGE INDIA DOING

Over the past several years, HelpAge India extended financial support for infrastructure
development and provided assistive devices to nearly 90 such institutions around the country.
HelpAge India has also compiled a list of 484 Homes for the Aged in 16 cities of the country
with information about basic facilities, key features and contact details of these Homes, available
on HelpAge Indias website.

Field operation

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Tamaraikulam Elders Village (TEV): Recognised as a model demonstration project by the
Government of Tamil Nadu, TEV is the first Home for the Aged constructed by HelpAge India.
Situated in Cuddalore, about 20 km from Puducherry, the construction of this Home for the Aged
was made possible by the generous donations from viewers of NDTV. This model age care, free
stay facility for rural poor has a capacity for 100 persons. TEV has multiple age friendly
facilities and is self-sufficient in terms of energy and food. Active residents raise livestock, look
after a fish pond, a vegetable plot, a greenhouse and a rice paddy field. As part of their income-
generating activities, they produce items such as toiletries, banana-leaf rope, straw bags and
pickles for sale in order to raise money for TEV. The residents have excellent healthcare
facilities, practice active ageing techniques, participate in community meetings, celebrate
festivals and are also involved in recreational activities with local community and Panchayat.
TEV takes care of all the needs of its elders and provides them emotional and physical care.

Kalyan Ashram, Kolkata: Located in Chetla (South Kolkata), this donated two-storey home
has been converted into model age care facility for elderly women. Managed by HelpAge India
Kalyan Ashram has a capacity for 10 persons with all the age friendly amenities essential for a
Home for the Aged. The residents have access to excellent healthcare services and physiotherapy
care. The facility also serves as a service hub for senior citizens of Kolkata and surrounding
areas, providing support through a toll free elders helpline, physiotherapy care and medical
services. Services to 38 Homes for the Aged of Kolkata are provided from this facility.

Disaster Management
Natural calamities reveal that in the struggle for survival, the elderly are usually the last in the
line and lost in the crowd, and therefore suffer the most. In a country like India, with its vastly
different climatic and geographical zones, reaching survivors of natural calamities is a huge
challenge. Given the size of its population and the dense habitation, disasters affect people by the
hundreds of thousands, causing unacceptable fatalities and destroying families and homes.
Floods, earthquakes, cloudbursts and even tsunamis are now a regular feature in diverse parts of
India.

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What HELPAGE Is Doing

HelpAge India started its disaster intervention programmes in the year 1980. The first of its kind
among voluntary organisations, the HelpAge India unit was trained and equipped to bring swift
and effective counter measures in the face of disasters. It carried out its first operation during the
catastrophic floods in Uttar Pradesh and did significant work in the remote villages of the Sitapur
and Jaunpur districts. The unit carried its own tents, tarpaulins and cooking equipment, making
no demands on local resources, which is a major relief factor during such emergencies.

Along the way, HelpAge India has evolved innovative solutions as well. For example, setting up
grain banks in small villages eliminates the need of victims to queue up for food-aid packages.
These grain banks are entrusted to the elderly in each village to run. This also ensures a sense of
solidarity in the community and a sense of respect among the people of the village for the
elderly.

Today, Helpage India's disaster response model is equipped to rush in quickly to reach out not
only to the elderly but also to the community at large at times of large scale disasters, providing
relief with food, clothing and shelter to establishing long-lasting rehabilitation programmes.
Which is why, HelpAge India could immediately respond to disasters such as the earthquakes in
Gujarat and J&K, floods in Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, cloudbursts in Leh and
Uttarakhand, tsunamis in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. It raised donations, provided
medical and survival relief and help establish long term rehabilitation projects.

Livelihood programmes
Income generation schemes enable otherwise needy elders to set up self-help groups to avail
micro credit and start commercial enterprises. These help them earn their livelihood and regain
their financial independence. Over 3200 such Elder Self Help Groups, covering more than
42,000 elders operate across India.

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What HELPAGE Is Doing

In order to decrease the socio-economic vulnerability of older persons, particularly the

disadvantaged in the rural areas, HelpAge works with these elders to set up and build Elder Self-
help Groups (ESHGs) into viable and sustainable groups and to facilitate their federation at local
and district level.

It aids these Groups by accessing adequate doses of financing for their institution and investing
in livelihoods assets like processing units, pump sets, agriculture equipment etc. It also actively
strives to reach various government entitlements to the village elderly. Further, HelpAge invests
in imparting knowledge and skills to local volunteers and develop them as village level para
professionals working towards the institutions of poor elderly. Currently, HelpAge is working
closely with 3241 Rural Elders Self Help Groups in different states.

Working with Society

Public awareness on elder issues - Building public awareness on the importance of supporting
the elder cause is a key objective of HelpAge India. It invites public participation in 'Walkathons'
on International day of Elder Persons (IDOP) on 1 October; involves the media in highlighting
the evil of elder abuse on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15of each year

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Working with the Youth
Student Action for Value Education (SAVE) - Student Action for Value Education (SAVE) aims
to inculcate care and respect for the elderly through HelpAge India's long standing programme
with schools across the country; the HUG (Help Unite Generations) initiative aims at involving
college students and young professionals to engage with elders and keep in regular touch with
them, providing them companionship in their lonely, later years.

Working with Governments

For Elder-friendly Policies and Laws - sensitizing legislators and governments in states and
centre has resulted in HelpAge India contributing significantly to the formulation of the National

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Policy on Older Persons and the enactment of the Maintenance & HelpAge Indialfare of the
Parents and Senior Citizens Act (2007). Current ongoing efforts aim at inclusion of age care in
school curriculum and the provision for old age pensions; in some states, this pension facility is
being introduced though the quantum of pension is still inadequate.

Working with Senior Citizen Associations

For senior citizens - HelpAge India taps the potential of Senior Citizens in evolving solutions to
address their needs; it is currently associated with almost 1000 SCAs across the country. In
addition, it holds regular health camps, offers counselling for financial assistance schemes like
the Reverse Mortgage scheme and a nationwide helpline service for elders in distress.

Advocacy
IMPACTING ELDER POLICIES AND LAWS

HelpAge India works for the inclusion of concerns and rights of senior citizens in the policies of
the government. To this end, it works with civil society, the judiciary, legislators and the
government both at the Centre and in the various states. In this, HelpAge India also harnesses the
power of over 1000 Senior Citizens Association with which it is in close touch.

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The promulgation of The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act,
2007) and the Draft National Policy for Senior Citizens, 2011 are recent successes in the Elder
Rights area where the contribution of HelpAge India has been highly significant. Currently, it is
actively participating in the Pension Parishad movement to secure universal old age pensions.

EMPOWERING ELDER LIVES AND LIFESTYLES

A report by the United Nations Population Fund found the number of over-60s in India will
increase from around 100 million today to more than 300 million by 2050 and warned the
government to prepare for the additional strain this will put on families and health and welfare
services. Keeping this emerging scenario in mind, HelpAge India has launched a programme to
empower senior citizens in living active and healthy lives. Called the AdvantAge Programme, it
gives elders 3 powerful tools to achieve this. The first is the AdvantAge Card is an elder benefit
facility which provides cost benefits in shopping to 1.5 lakh members at over 4000 retailers
across 200 plus towns and cities. The second, AdvantAge Groups encourage elders to adopt
healthy living practices by getting active, staying active. The third, the AdvantAge centres are
based on groups of 5/6 members coming together in groups to serve the community through
socially useful productive work, thereby keeping themselves active and mentally engaged.

AdvantAge Benefit Cards for Elders

Studies show that after retirement, urban retirees tend to withdraw from regular activities other
than household chores. This cuts off links with the outside world and in these days of nuclear
families, they soon begin to experience isolation and loneliness. Additionally, there are problems
of shrinking incomes post-retirement, consequently reduced consumption, lack of assistance in
performing outdoor chores, lack of peer group companionship, avenues for intellectual
stimulation, lack of available paid and unpaid occupations and most importantly the loneliness of
old age. If not corrected in time, such situations can often led to depression and serious medical
problems among the elderly.

The Advantage Card

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WHAT IS HELPAGE INDIA DOING

In line with its objective of propagating the concept of 'Active Ageing', HelpAge India now
offers a facility that encourages the elderly to step out of the house and follow an independent
way of living through its AdvantAge Card. For senior citizens with limited means or those 50
plus citizens who are facing the prospect of dwindling incomes as they approach retirement or
are already retired, the AdvantAge Card offers attractive discounts on a wide variety of products
and services, ranging from health to travel. The Card requires the card member to step out to
their choice of retailer in order to avail the discounts and thereby ensuring that the member once
again renews his links with the outside world.

The programme, through the website www.helpageadvantage.org, lists out city wise and location
of all the retailers detailing out incentives in the form of attractive discount prices at health
services, special health aids, nursing care, hospital services, fitness, legal, local and outstation
travel, entertainment, clothing, etc.

HelpAge has 4,800 associates in 320 cities benefiting 1,45,000 members currently enrolled.

SAVE Student Action for Value Education

Theres an ever growing number of the elderly people in our country. Simultaneously the
country is undergoing major economic and social changes which are directly impacting societal
norms and changing family mores are separating joint families, forcing the elderly to fend for
themselves. With pressures on the younger generation increasing in academics, technology
enhancement and exposure and engagement with the virtual world, the definition of physical
time and spaces is rapidly changing. More time is spent today online than actual physical
interaction with people. This is adversely affecting the older generation and increasingly, the

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elderly suffer from isolation and neglect. In order to counter this growing problem change needs
to take place at the formative stage. The way to do this is to start young at the school and college
levels.

What is HELPAGE India Doing

HelpAges birth is synonymous with SponsEred Walks with school children. Special events were
organized in the early formative years, where school children walked for the cause spreading
awareness on the importance of being sensitive to the needs of the elderly. More than two lakh
children took part in the program in 1979. Samson Daniel, to whom much of the credit for the
formation of HelpAge goes, was the pioneer of Sponsored Walks in India.

With an existing school program, HelpAge was well on its way to bring two generations
together, bringing home the importance of love and care for the elderly in the young ones.

Most young adults today remember being a part of HelpAges School Education program. In
recent years however, with the declining value system and the rapid birth of nuclear families, the
definition of a Complete Family has seen a major change from one consisting of Father,
Mother, Siblings and Grandparents in many instances, to that of simply Father, Mother and
Child. Grandparents have slowly but surely are moving out of the Complete Family circle.

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HUG - Help Unite Generations

With changing times, families and relationships are getting redefined. The family values which
were understood and passed over from one generation to the next are getting lost in a fast paced
life. Virtues of spending time together are losing their relevance among loved ones. Thus, there
is a need to evolve ways to bridge the gap between generations. This is where the Help Unite
Generations or HUG program comes in. It encourages you to give a thought, to look and think
differently about elders and be more sensitive towards their needs.

WHAT IS HELPAGE INDIA DOING

HelpAge India has introduced the Help Unite Generations or HUG program. This program is
being launched in cities across India through events whose aim has been to provide a platform
wherein elders and youngsters bond, exchange HUG bands and contact details to help stay in
touch. HelpAge has taken the initiative to make people aware of the importance of spending time
with the elderly, which in effect is a gift in kind to elders. The HUG program is also being given
impetus through advocacy outreach initiatives as Student Action for Value Education in
educational institutions, through Senior Citizen Associations as well.

Demand for Universal Pension

The India senior citizens are not covered by any social security network. A miniscule number of
Government employees and few private sector workers retire with pensions. The unorganized
sector workers who form over 94 % of the work force are not covered by any sort of pensions.

Existing Government Schemes:

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Currently, persons above 60 years get a pension of Rs. 200 per month, and those over 80 years
get Rs. 500 per month under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)
constituted by the Ministry of Rural Development. However this is only for those Below the
Poverty Line. Of the total elderly population, 9.92 crore , only 1.97 crore are beneficiaries of
IGNOAPS, which means that only about one in every five person over 60 years old receives old
age pension. The rate of pension paid to elderly people till the year 2011, ranges from a
maximum of 1000 rupees in Goa and Delhi to a paltry 200 rupees per month in states such as
Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha.

WHAT IS HELPAGE INDIA DOING

HelpAge India has been in the forefront of the struggle for Universal Pension for the last six
consecutive parliament sessions convening many of the meetings. The elderly poor from across
India have steadfastly come to Delhi and hoped to be heard. The Elders want their rightful dues.

Elder Demands

A Universal and Non Contributory Old Age Pension System to be established immediately by the
government with a minimum dignified amount of monthly pension not less than 50% of
minimum wage or Rs 2000/- per month, whichever is higher.
The pension should be an individual entitlement for all eligible citizens of India.
The monthly pension amount be revised every two to three years and changed every six month
based on inflation in the same manner as is done for salaries of government servants.
Any individual who is 55 years or older should be eligible for the old age pension.
For women, eligibility age for pensions should be 50 years.
For highly vulnerable groups (such as the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, Transgender,
Women Compelled to become Sex Workers, PWDs), the eligibility age should be 45 years.
No one should be forced to compulsorily retire from work on attaining the age of eligibility for
universal old age pension.
A single window system for Old Age Pensions and a separate ministry for issues of the Elderly.
The right to employment and the right to pensions together represent the most important
survival and livelihood demands of the unorganized sector (both rural and urban).
The demand is that these issues are taken into account in the coming years budget, and are
given due consideration by the government.
The payment of pension should not be used to deny any other social security / welfare benefit
such as benefit under the Public Distribution System

Research
Ageing is a phenomenon that is least understood in emerging economies like India. So, research
is important to understand the bio-medical and social aspects of ageing. The understanding so
developed would help to unravel the possible challenges this phenomenon would pose to our

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society and some useful insights to deal with the challenges in effective ways.

Demographers, Gerontologist and Geriatricians the world over are making efforts to understand
nuances of population ageing. Besides, there are multilateral bodies like WHO and UNFPA that
are leading the research on comparative international data on health and other aspects of ageing.

There are voluntary organisations like HelpAge International that are constantly raising issues
for research; besides, these organisations are also conducting research on many aspects of ageing
that they encounter while implementing related progarmmes.

Social Security

Non Contributory Pension

Elder Abuse & Neglect

Enabling Environment

Older Persons in natural disasters

Health

Need Assessment of Elderly

WHAT IS HELPAGE INDIA DOING

HelpAge India being a voluntary organisation is focussing on the policy related research on
ageing issues particularly on urgent concerns like poverty, isolation and neglect. This is done
with the view to mainstream the issues pertaining to aged and ageing in the country.

The extensive experience of HelpAge in the field informs the research efforts of the organisation.
Accordingly, efforts were made from time to time to understand poverty in old age and possible
ways of poverty alleviation in old age. The other most important aspect that requires urgent

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attention is safety and security of the vulnerable older persons. So every year HI brings out the
nuances of elder abuse prevalent in society.

SUPPORTERS
HelpAge receives support from Individual Volunteering, Corporates & Business houses, Trusts
& Foundations, Bi-Lateral & Multi-Lateral Funders.

Awards & Recognition

Over the years HelpAge India's work has been recognized by various organizations and
institutions. We are thankful to them for entrusting their faith and belief in our services and
giving us such an honor. It encourages and makes us believe that we are on the right track and at
the same time reminds us of the great responsibility we carry on our shoulders towards the
elderly of our society.

The HelpAge Kolkata team proudly holds up the Bharat Nirman Institutional
Award honoring HelpAge India's work

HelpAge India was awarded the prestigious Bharat Nirman Institutional Award against
its outstanding services for senior citizens. Mrs. Susmita Ghose (centre), National
Director (SAVE), HelpAge India, upholds the trophy which she received on behalf of
HelpAge India at the 21st Annual Bharat Nirman Awards Ceremony on the 14th June
2014 at Kalamandir Auditorium, Kolkata.

HelpAge receives the Leadership & Excellence Award 2014

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 Special guests Mr. Saugata Mitra (left), Chief People Officer & Group Head HR, Mother
Dairy Fruit & Vegetable Pvt. Ltd. hands over the Global CSR Award plaque to Mr.
Prakash Borgaonkar, Territory Head (Maharashtra, Gujarat & Goa), HelpAge India and
Dr. Sanjay Muthal (second from right), Executive Director, RGF Management Search,
presents Ms. Madhu Madan, Country Head - Resource Mobilization, HelpAge India with
the trophy for the same, at an award function of ABP News & World CSR Congress
commemorating World CSR Day.

Recognized by ICAI for Financial Excellence 2011-12

Ms. Shanta Chatterji (second from left), Treasurer, Governing Body, HelpAge India,
receives the ICAI Plaque on behalf of HelpAge, for transparency and excellence in
financial reporting in the not-for-profit sector for 2011- 12, by the Institute of Chartered
Accountants of India (ICAI). Looking on is Ms. Geeta Mathur (third from right), Chief
Financial Officer, HelpAge India, CA. Ms. Bhavna Doshi (third from left), Chairperson,
Research Committee, ICAI, CA Mr. Jaydeep Narendra Shah (fourth from left), former
President ICAI, Mr. V. N. Kaul (second from right), Former C&AG of India & Jury Head
for ICAI Awards, CA. Mr. Subodh Kumar Agrawal (first from right), President, ICAI,
along with other ICAI representatives.

Recognized by ICAI for Financial Excellence 2010-11

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 Mr. Rakesh Goswami, Former Director Finance, HelpAge India, is congratulated before
he receives the ICAI Award on behalf of HelpAge India for 'Commended Annual Report
in the Not-for- Profit Sector' from CA Mr. K Rahman Khan, Deputy Chairman, Rajya
Sabha (left), CA Mr. G. Ramaswamy, President, ICAI. Dr. M Veerappa Moily, Union
Minister for Corporate Affairs, Govt. of India is seen with the award (centre).

Award for Outstanding Contribution to Social Welfare 2011

Mr. Mathew Cherian, Chief Executive

Officer, HelpAge India, receives PHD Chamber of Commerce Award for 'Outstanding
Social Contribution' from Smt. Meira Kumar, Speaker of the Lok Sabha at a function in
New Delhi. Also seen in the picture (from left) from the PHD Chamber of Commerce and
Industry are: Mr. Suman Jyoti Khaitan, Vice President, Mr. Sandip Somany, Senior Vice
President, Mr. Salil Bhandari, President and Mr. R. K. Saboo, Chairman Awards
Committee.

Best NGO Award

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 Ms. Shanta Chatterji (second from left), Treasurer, Governing Body, HelpAge India and
Mr. Prakash Borgaonkar, Territory Head (Maharashtra, Goa & Gujarat),HelpAge India,
receive the Best NGO Award by Institute ofPublic Enterprise (IPE) for HelpAge from
Mr. Mahendra Dev,Chairman, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).
Looking on is Mr. R. K. Mishra, Director, Institute of Public Enterprise (IPE)

Healthcare Leadership Award 2012

Mr. Georgy M. Varghese (right), Director Health Services, HelpAge India, receives the
Health care Leadership Award 2012 from Padmashri Dr. K.K. Aggarwal , well-known
cardiologist and senior physician. HelpAge received the award for outstanding
contribution in promoting inclusive healthcare in the 'NGO in Healthcare' category. This
award was given by civil society group, Knowledge Resource Development and Welfare
Group.

FUNDERS
Some of HelpAge's biggest programmes are funded by the European Union, Disasters
Emergency Committee (UK), Department for International Development (UK), Canadian
International Development Agency (CIDA), US Agency for International Development, Japan

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Foundation, HelpAge International and Cordaid

REFERENCE
1. http://www.helpageindia.org/about-us/history.html
2. http://www.helpageindia.org/our-work.html
3. http://www.helpageindia.org/about-us/history.html
4. http://www.helpageindia.org/our-work/5.html

EXTERNAL LINKS
HelpAge India Official HelpAge Indiabsite
HelpAge India Latest News
HelpAge India Programmes
HelpAge International Official HelpAge Indiabsite

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