ISR - INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL RESPONSIBILTY

ADWAIT.R. PHANSEKAR

ADMISSION NO: - LPGD/OCT14/0314

SOCIAL CAUSE: - FIGHTING ISOLATION, POVERTY AND NEGLECT.

NAME OF THE NGO: - HELPAGE INDIA.

PRIN. L. N. WELINGKAR INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENTDEVELOPMENT & RESEARCH

FEBRUARY 2016.

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DECLARATION

I, Adwait Phansekar, student of Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research, with admission no:- LPGD/OCT14/0314, hereby declare that I have completed this project on ISR-, in the academic year 2015. The information submitted is true and original to the best of my knowledge.

Signature of the student.

Adwait

Adwait Phansekar

INDEX

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SR.NO PARTICULARS PAGE NO.

1. INTRODUCTION 5

2. HISTORY 6

3. FINANCIALS 8

4. MISSION & VISION 9

5. LEADERSHIP 10

6. AWARDS & RECOGNITION 11

7. WHAT IS HELPAGE INDIA DOING? 17

8. OLD AGE HOMES 19

9. TENDERS 20

10. PUBLICATIONS 21

11 CAREERS 22

12 PRESS RELEASES 23

13 HELP AGE INDIA has explained some points they are:-

.

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13.1 a) Health camps 25

13.2 b) Elder Helplines 26

13.3 c) Disaster Management 27

13.4 d) Mobile Health Care 30

13.5 e) Cancer care 33

13.6 f) Funders 35

14 Approach 36

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15 Programmatic Structure 36

16 Conclusion 42

17 Biblography 43

1. INTRODUCTION

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HelpAge India is a secular, apolitical, non-profit and a non-governmental organisation in India registered under the Societies' Registration Act of 1860. Set up in 1978, HelpAge India is a registered national level voluntary organisation. Since its foundation, its mission is to work for the cause and care of disadvantaged older persons, in order to improve the quality of their lives.

India is today home to 100 million senior citizens. The pity is that today’s rapid

urbanization has overtaken the traditional value-system of our people and shifted their socio-

economic priorities. Sons and daughters and their children find no time for the senior citizens in

their family. The elderly, who have provided their services and support to the society, feel

unloved and neglected at this phase of their lives. Their deteriorating physical strength and other

geriatric illnesses add to their difficulties. Their often poor financial condition, lack of affordable

health care and the general neglect by society has propelled HelpAge India to step in and bring in

elder welfare programs and advocate for elder friendly policies over 36 years.

Established in 1978, HelpAge India is a leading charity platform in India working with

and for disadvantaged elderly and has become the representative voice for India’s elderly.

Dedicated to improving the status for India’s senior citizens, it works in 23 states providing

medical services, poverty alleviation and income generation schemes in urban and rural India. It

welcomes all those who wish to support, donate or sponsor online and those who want to

volunteer to help elderly citizens.

2. HISTORY HelpAge India began the late 1960s when the speaker of the Lok Sabha visited his counterpart in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, who was also honorary secretary of Help the Aged. He came back with a vision of setting up something similar in India.

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But it took seven years for this vision to take shape. In March 1974, when Jackson Cole, founder of HelpAge International visited India, Samson Daniel, a philanthropist, approached him for financial help to set up a member organisation in Delhi. Cole instead offered to train him to raise funds. After a three month training course in London, Daniel and his wife returned to India and organised 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.

HelpAge India is one of the founding members of HelpAge International, a high profile body having 97 member countries representing the cause of the elderly at the United Nations. It is closely associated with Help the Aged, UK and has received a special testimonial from the United Nations for "Dedicated service in support of the United Nations Programme on Ageing". HelpAge India is also a full member of the International Federation on Ageing.

In April 1978, HelpAge India was registered in Delhi. 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 society’s affairs.

CECIL JACKSON COLE JOHN F. PEARSON SAMSON DANIEL

HelpAge India was on its way.

Philip Jackson

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 India's 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 Society's affairs.

A New Force of Change.

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M.M.Sabharwal

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 widower at the age of 51. Bereft,

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 India's 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 were imperative for a long sustaining impact on the lives of India's elderly. He later went

on to join the four member committee set up by the Government to review the National Policy on

Older Persons.

3. Financials "HelpAge is known for its transparency. I think it's safe to say that the way our programs

function, and the way we work as an organization has a lot of clarity and transparency. Nothing

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is hidden. It's all out there, in the public domain — for everyone to see," says Mathew Cherian,

Chief Executive Officer, HelpAge India.

HelpAge India has always worked to accurately account for and report the financial position

of the Society, to promote sound financial management, and to provide quality services to the

donors. The centralised finance function is performed from the Headquarters at Delhi and serves

the needs of all the offices across the country. It ensures that all transactions adhere to the

Society's policies and procedures, generally accepted accounting principles, and rules established

by the statutory bodies.

HelpAge India values a culture of accountability and integrity committed to doing the right

thing. HelpAge India was among the pioneers in the sector to implement ERP based accounting

software which enables strong internal controls and checks and balances to ensure that its

financial reports are reliable, operations are effective and its activities compliant with applicable

laws and regulations.

The efforts of HelpAge were further recognized when it recieved a award for transparency and

excellence in financial reporting in the not for profit sector by "Institute of Chartered

Accountants of India" for three consecutive years. HelpAge was also awarded the Best Presented

Accounts and Corporate Governance Disclosure Award 2010, in the NGO category by the South

Asian Federation of Accountants.

4. MISSION & VISION

MISSION

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

life.

VISION HelpAge envisions a society where elderly have the Right to an active, healthy and

dignified life. We are integrating our programmes and services, and consciously moving from

welfare towards development and long term sustainability for seniors. We are working closely

with Senior Citizen Associations and encouraging seniors to speak up for their own rights.

We 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 we have made

significant strides, but they are just a drop in the ocean.We hope to achieve the following milestones by the Year 2020:

Livelihood security for two million elderly through institutions of elderly

Health security for two million elderly

A National movement of elders that gives them a voice and political constituency

Age appropriate services to 12 million elderly in partnership with government, private sector and

civil society.

5. LEADERSHIP

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"Managing a not for profit organisation is filled with challenges at most times; now, more than

ever, in a rapidly changing society and a volatile business environment, meeting people’s

heightened expectations, fighting deep set prejudices, mobilising hard to come by resources are

all daunting tasks. HelpAge India has always risen to these and many other challenges not only

meeting goals but exceeding them, year after year."

- Amal Ganguli, Chairman HelpAge India

HelpAge India has a history of working with compassion for the Cause of the Elderly while

relentlessly pursuing a focused agenda. In this, it is aidded by a professionally aclaimed Board of

Directores and selfless team to make HelpAge India the representative Voice for India’s 100 million

elders.

“Over the last three decades, HelpAge India has handled over 3,000 projects aimed at helping senior citizens live a life of dignity; it has put welfare and development programmes in place and fought for the Rights of disadvantaged older people so that they can be economically and physically secure.What began as a humble initiative from a rented two-room office in New Delhi has now blossomed into a huge operation spread across 26 states with 90 project offices in India”

- M.M. Sabharwal

6. 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

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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.

HelpAge India Receives Chairman's Challenge Award

HelpAge India volunteering program with Prudential Process Management Services (PPMS)

has received an award in the innovation category of Chairman's Challenge Award along with

prize money of £ 5519. Prudential Process Management Services has been supporting HelpAge

India for last seven years through volunteering and involvement of their employees in HelpAge

India's projects. The employees get to meet and spend time with the elderly and enrich

themselves.

HelpAge India awarded NGO Leadership & Excellence Award 2015

Mrs. Shanta Chatterji (second from right), Member, Governing Body and Mr. Prakash N.

Boragaonkar (second from left), Territory Head, Gujarat, Maharashtra & Goa, HelpAge India,

receive a trophy and certificate from Mr. H. E Sim Sitha (left), Director General, Phnom Penh

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Water Supply Authority, Cambodia and Dr. Sanjay Muthal (right), Executive Director, RGF

Management Search, in the NGO Leadership & Excellence Award ceremony organized by ABP

News where HelpAge India was recognized and awarded second time in a row for its work

toward the elderly cause.

HelpAge India Awarded Times Social Impact Award HelpAge India has been awarded the Times Social Impact Award, an initiative by the

Times Group, as best NGO in the health sector. HelpAge India was chosen for its Mobile

Healthcare Program that operates in 20 states through Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) treating

those elderly who can't afford or reach health facilities.

HelpAge India was awarded Vayoshreshtha Samman (National Award for Senior Citizens)

Mr. Mathew Cherian (second from right), CEO, HelpAge India, HelpAge India, receives the

Vayoshreshtha Samman 2014 (National Award for Senior Citizens) from Mr. Thaawar Chand

Gehlot (third from left), Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India and Mrs.

Sumitra Mahajan (fourth from left), Hon’ble Speaker, Lok Sabha. HelpAge India was selected as

the ‘Outstanding Institution’ for its efforts of working over three decades for the cause of the

elderly.

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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

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

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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

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

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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

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 of Public 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

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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.

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7. 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 India’s website.

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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.

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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.

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8. OLD AGE 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, it’s

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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9. TENDERS

HelpAge India, a national NGO working for the cause and care of the elderly, invites sealed

tenders for those listed below:

1. TENDERS INVITED FOR GENERIC MEDICINES

HelpAge invites sealed Tenders from suppliers for medicines for its Mobile Medical Units.

The approximate value of medicine procurement over a period of one year would be

approximately Rs. 3.0 crores.

HelpAge India operates Mobile Medical Units across the country to provide Healthcare

Services at the inaccessible and difficult terrains, with the special focus to serving the poor and

the needy elderly population. Currently there are nearly 100+MMUs. Locations are subjected to

change at short notice.

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10. PUBLICATIONS

HelpAge India has come to be recognised as a one-stop destination for kinds of information on

the Ageing scenario in India. It earns this status by bringing out a large number of Publications

and Reports pertaining to this area, year after year. It has a full fledged Policy Research and

Development department which work on studying and collating information on the subject. Its

research reports on Elder Abuse are of seminal value. This section gives access to various

articles, reports and policy documents as well as some recently enacted Laws

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11. CAREERS

Most people now agree job satisfaction is what we value most at work. And it's no different

for those who work at HelpAge India. We are a dynamic and professional national organisation,

which is a leader in advocating the rights of the aged in India. We value experience and talent,

no matter what your background is.

If you want to contribute in making the lives of the elderly happier and better, and in the

process enrich yourself, we will be happy to hear from you.

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12. PRESS RELEASES:-

Welcome to our online media room. Here, you will find a collection of current and archived

articles about HelpAge, and latest media releases. We encourage you to contact us for in-depth

information about our organisation that are present in numerous locations around the country.

We also invite you to contact us for leading HelpAge experts who are available as sources and

speakers on a wide variety of topics related to ageing and the aged in India.

The Indian Youth Speaks Out:

73% of Indian Youth Admit

that Elder Abuse Exists

15 June 2015

HelpAge Releases Report on

‘State of Elderly in India’ as

Budget 2015-16

Approaches

20 February 2015

Beaten in Mind, Body & Spirit –

HelpAge India’s 2014 Elder

Abuse Report

13 June 2014

Tee Off For A Million Elders -

The Charity Golf Event26 April 2014

‘Bhaag Oliver Bhaag’ premières 14 October 2013

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in the national capital this

October in aid of HelpAge

India.

As a 102 year old freedom

fighter gets felicitated by

HelpAge India as a beacon

of Active Ageing on

International Day of Older

Persons, the Global Age

Watch Index report reveals

India ranks a poor 73 on the

Ageing Index..

01 October 2013

Capitals senior citizens join the

‘Get Active, Stay Active’

inter-generational

Walkathon at Rajpath

marking International Day of

Older Persons.

01 October 2013

Uttarakhand Chief Minister

flags off a convoy of

HelpAge India Winter Relief

packages for Uttarakhand

survivors.

05 October 2013

A story from the Indian

Heartland with a lesson for

us All.

01 August 2013

UTTARAKHAND – A month

later, and things only get

Tougher HelpAge India

sends a relief convoy.

19 July 2013

More than One Fifth of India’s Elderly

face Abuse at the hands of those

they trust most Daughter-in-Law &

14 June 2013

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Son revealed as Main abusers.

Elder care in India comes a long way as

HelpAge India turns 35.29 April 2013

Celebrating 100 yrs of Delhi in aid of

HelpAge India LRT presents

“Badshah Rangeela”.

15 March 2013

13. HELP AGE INDIA HAS EXPLAINED THE FOLLOWING POINTS:-

a) HEALTH CAMPS:

India after decades of independence is still struggling to provide basic health care

facilities to its citizens. Provisions for basic health care services especially in rural India are few

and far between. It’s an understood reality that the elderly fall way behind in receiving these

services.

An important feature of HelpAge India's health care initiative for the elderly is organizing

health camps in rural as well as urban areas of the country. Since 2010, HelpAge in association

with its network has successfully organised both general and specialized health camps for the

elderly. A general camp team comprises of general physician, pharmacist and assistant.

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A specialised health camp has a team

of specialised doctors like dentists,

ophthalmologists, gynaecologist,

orthopaedic besides general

physician, pharmacist and assistant.

The health camps ensuring diagnosis,

treatment and referrals for general

ailments, dental care, gynaecological

conditions and ophthalmic diseases

are carried out. These camps also

focus on preventive health care

program through Information,

Education and

Communication and Behaviour

Change Communication activities

among the community.

B) ELDER HELPLINESS :

In these days of nuclear families, the older generations find themselves living alone,

lonely and often with no one to speak to or seek help from in cases of medical or other

emergencies. On the other hand, those elderly who still live with their immediate family find

themselves strangers in their own house, shunned by their near ones and often abused only

because they are old and cannot take care of their own needs. In these cases, the old are

denied their Right to Dignity.

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C) 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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HelpAge India started its disaster intervention programs 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.

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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

programs. 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.

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D) MOBILE HEALTHCARE: 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. The Mobile Healthcare program in its

entirety seeks to provide a sustainable healthcare solution to whole communities. The core of

the program is a sponsored Mobile Health Unit (MHU). This Unit provides primary health care to

the elderly, while simultaneously using the same resources to educate and inform the

community on preventive healthcare, hygiene and connect the community to Govt. schemes of

health insurance and pensions. The subsequent actions are extensions to Community led and

managed Health services which will remain in place after the sponsored MHUs do not operate

after 3 years.

To reach basic healthcare to 1 million disadvantaged rural and urban people, particularly the elderly in under-served communities by 2020. Currently, we are reaching out through 1383 community locations and the plan is to reach out to the community from 2000 site locations by 2020

HelpAge Mobile Health services operate on a three pronged concept, at the core of which is

the Mobi-Health Unit providing primary health care through direct intervention, followed by

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sustainable health care measures, such as setting up of Gram Chikitsa Centres and Accredited

Clinics.

Direct Intervention: The Mobi-Health Unit

The Mobi-Health service provides affordable and quality primary health care services at the

doorsteps of the needy elderly. The Mobi-Health Unit (MHU) consists of a 4 wheeler with

customized fabrication done to carry medicines, consumables & equipment. These units visit

designated locations on a regular basis (weekly or fortnightly) as per a fixed schedule. The

coverage of each MHU is 10 locations per week, on a two-shift (morning & afternoon) basis.

Each MHU team consists of a medical consultant, pharmacist, social worker & driver. Each Unit

is equipped to provide primary health consultation, basic diagnostic services, free medicines,

referrals to specialized health care providers and counselling services. The social worker also

informs and educates the community on preventive healthcare, hygiene and Govt. Schemes.

Community based sustainable healthcare: Gram Chikitsa Centres & Accredited Clinics

Within the 10 sites that are serviced by a MHU, attempts will be made to identify and form Elder-

Self-Help-Groups from within the community. Once formed, the Elder-Self-Help-Groups

(ESHGs) will be provided the seed capital to develop sustainable livelihood options. These

ESHGs are necessary to move to the next stage of Gram Chikitsa Centres and Accredited

Clinics.

Gram Chikitsa Centres: Simultaneously healthcare workers and volunteers will be identified

from within the community and trained. Subsequently these workers will be used to set-up Gram

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Chikitsa Centres. The overall running, operations and monitoring of such Gram Chikitsa Centres

will be managed by the ESHGs and costs including the fees of one visiting doctor will be borne

by HelpAge for the first two years. The aim is to make the Gram Chikitsa Centres self-funded

and fully managed by the ESHGs.

Accredited Clinics: These clinics would be in addition to the Community Managed Health

Services or sometimes as a stand-alone next step. HelpAge will identify Accredited Clinics

being run by existing local qualified medical practitioners to provide continued health services,

once the HelpAge run Mobile Health Unit (MHU) exits in a planned manner. After initial support

by HelpAge, there will be regular monitoring and structured reporting of such outsourced

activities. Subsequently, the community is expected make the program becoming self-

sustaining.

With the addition of the two elements of Community Managed Gram Chikitsa and Community

Managed Accredited Clinics, the Mobile Health Services program will have a sustainable impact

on the community.

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E) CANCER CARE:

The single greatest risk factor for developing cancer is ageing. Prolonged exposure to

carcinogens, reduced DNA repairing ability, genetic instability, decreased carcinogens

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.

Helpage India, also serves as a cancer care charity for elders. Therefore it’s 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 program.

What is more heart breaking is that many elderly who are unable to collect the necessary funds

for cancer treatment don’t opt for treatment at all.

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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 services for the elders, it has given support of more than

Rs.7.5 crores to 38 hospitals and institutions in 12 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 and this can only be

achieved through cancer donations made by YOU !

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F) FUNDERS:

Some of HelpAge's biggest programs 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

Foundation, HelpAge International and Cordaid.

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14. APPROACH

HelpAge India works in the following areas:

Elderly rights - Elder Abuse in India, Reverse Mortgage, Senior Citizens Associations (SCAs), Ending Isolation, Health Insurance, Parents Maintenance Act, Union Budget Allocation, National Policy on Older Persons

Eldercare - Healthcare, Social Protection, Shelters, Specialized Care, Disaster, Mitigation

Supporters - Individual Volunteering, Corporates & Business houses, Trusts & Foundations, Bi-Lateral & Multi-Lateral Funders.

15. PROGRAMMATIC STRUCTURE HelpAge India runs various programs servicing the needs of disadvantaged elderly mentioned here below:

Mobile Medical Units (MMU): These are mobile health vans that provides basic healthcare virtually at the doorsteps of destitute elderly. The program provides 1.7 million free treatments annually, through its 97 Mobile Medical Units working in 1085 community locations in 20 states across India. The program has been recognized as Asia's largest Mobile Medical Program for the elderly.

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Cataract Surgeries: HelpAge India helps conduct free cataract surgeries for needy elderly every year. In most cases, these surgeries help the affected elderly get back to work and earn a living once again, freeing them from financial dependency on anyone, enabling them to live a life of dignity.

Cancer and Palliative Care: HelpAge India provides palliative care to end stage patients suffering from Cancer.

Agecare/Physiocare centres: Elderly are usually impacted by the onset of arthritis and other related disease; this affects their ability to work and therefore earn their living. HelpAge India facilitated 80,228 physiotherapy treatments to 10,375 elderly in 22 states were conducted in year 2013-14.

Support a Gran: The program helps elderly to sustain themselves with regular supplies of food rations, clothing, primarily through the formation of Elder-Self-Help Groups. HelpAge India has enabled over 45,237 rural and destitute elderly in 20 states through the Support a Gran Program in 2013 -14 alone. Support-a-Gran program works across India, enabling these elders to live with dignity and independence.

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Elder Helplines: HelpAge India Elder Helplines operate across India in 20 state capitals attending to calls reporting abuse, abandonment, harassment by family members and others, legal queries and provide rescue services during emergencies. It provides information to elders on access to various elderly schemes and address problems such as isolation abuse & neglect, facilitate emergency responses and provide linkages with the government, police, referral rescue & relief services.

Old Age Homes/Day Care Centres: A roof over their heads is the critical need of the destitute, the sick and the abandoned, and those uprooted by disasters and emergencies. This basic care is provided by HelpAge India supporting old age homes across the country every year.

Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation: Every disaster impacts the elderly very adversely as they are unable to push for relief packages. HelpAge India has stepped in at every major disaster, delivering specialized relief and rehabilitation measures. These range from floods in the plains of Assam, Bihar, Odisha, UP, Tsunami in Tamil Nadu to earthquakes in Gujarat and J&K and the recent Uttarakhand Floods.

Livelihood programs: 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.

Tamaraikulam Elders Village (TEV): TEV is a unique rehabilitation project situated on the Cuddalore-Puducherry road, Tamil Nadu, built by HelpAge India - NDTV Viewers after the Tsunami in 2004. 100 elder victims of the Tsunami devastation were given a safe place to live in a model elder village which provides health care, professional care, livelihood options and recreational facilities.

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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 program 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 Policy on Older Persons and the enactment of the Maintenance & Welfare 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.

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AdvantAge Card program: This benefit card offers discounts from retail associates on various products, services and facilities ranging from health and wellness to holiday homes. It helps card holders to stretch household budgets, especially of those elder citizens living on limited or fixed incomes and, more importantly, encourages elder citizens to be physically active as the card requires their visiting the retail outlets themselves. Currently it has over 1.50 lakh members across 300 towns and cities in India with over 5200 Associates.

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16. CONCLUSION

As per the 2001 Census, in India the population of older persons constituted 7.44% of the total population; and in the year 2011 it was projected to be 8.3% of the total population and increase to 12.4 % in the year 2016. To put it simply, a large number of people are living longer. This fastest growing segment of the population would require additional resources, both human and material for sustaining a good quality of life. In India, family has been the mainstay of the social support. Even in this age and time, 58% of the older persons in India are living with the family. Though it is true that those who were being abused were living with the family; but, the importance of family could be gauged from the fact that most of those who reported abuse preferred to keep it in the family and did not use any legal redress mechanisms. The National Policy on Older Persons also has recognized the importance of family.

Therefore, HelpAge India is a leading charity in India working with and for

disadvantaged elderly for more than 3 decades. It was set up in 1978 and is registered

under the Societies' Registration Act of 1860. Traditionally the focus was to improve the

quality of life of destitute elders primarily in the rural areas through its welfare projects

by providing free rations, free medicines and consultations and conduct free cataract

surgeries.

It slowly spread its wings and started focusing on long term sustainability options for

these elders through various livelihood projects and helping them form Elder Self-Help

Groups, which today span India.

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17. Bibliography:- www.helpageindia.org https://fbcdn- photos-e-a.akamaihd.net www.the-south-asian.com www.youtube.com www.Image.slideshared.com www.aidindia.org https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HelpAge_India www.google.com www.robinwyatt.org aupindia.files.wordpress.com www.googleimage.com

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