Message from the Chairman WE TOO HAVE A DREAM... n the life of a an adequate universal pension, all contribute to country, 15 years is make senior citizens very vulnerable. HelpAge Ijust the blink of an India is working across several forums for the eye; in the life of a 60 early adoption of universal pension by state and year old, looking ahead, national governments, though the sheer numbers it’s often filled with some and consequently the financial implications are amount of trepidation truly formidable, especially for a government but when it comes in with a runaway fiscal deficit. the life of a 35 year old While activities for the welfare of the organization working for disadvantaged elderly will continue to be the core the elder cause, it comes of HelpAge India’s work, the years to come will see with a resolve to reach an increased emphasis on pursuing a right based the 50 year milestone with a renewed mandate to agenda, so that older people are aware of and able reach further, do more, do better. to demand and obtain what they are entitled to, HelpAge India, in the past year alone, made the which apathy and leakages often deprive them of. lives of 1.23 million sick and poor elderly people Increases in social tension are throwing up newer a little easier through medical treatment. In this challenges for resolution. Abuse of elder people same year, the number of our senior citizens is a disturbing and increasing phenomenon; it stood at 100 million. By 2030, this figure is could get worse in years to come. The recently projected to reach 200 million! There couldn’t be enacted Maintenance and Welfare of Parents a better reason driving us to try even harder to do and Senior Citizens Act is a step to make abuse more for a larger number. of this kind punishable. However, change must come from within families and society. Over the years, HelpAge has adapted its programmes to reflect the concerns of our Transforming society is a long, hard and arduous older population, to address, for instance the task, one that HelpAge will work on through its twin problems of isolation and neglect that strong advocacy initiatives. The journey ahead sizeable numbers of our urban elderly face. The is full of challenges but as HelpAge India looks AdvantAge Card and the AdvantAge Chapters ahead to its next 15 years, the vision remains clear: for the practise of Active Ageing are both aimed a society where the elderly have the right and the at overcoming these. Today, membership of the ability to lead active, healthy and dignified lives, programme has crossed hundred and twenty contributing to the present generation as well as thousand and covers over 160 towns and cities looking to them for empathy and a helping hand. across the country. In time, this will grow to be a nationwide movement of and for the elders. Financial security for elders is another area that requires to be seriously tackled. Increasing costs Amal Ganguli New Delhi of living, expensive medical services, a lack of Chairman September 2013 2 • Annual Report 2012-13 Message from the CEO THE year in perspective – AN OVERVIEW his year across the country and will strive to do more in marks an coming years. i m p o r t a n t T Once again, our flag ship programmes, Mobile land mark as we Medical Units (MMU), Support-a-Gran (SaGP), complete 35 years sight restoration through Cataract surgeries, Age and we remembered care and Physiotherapy centres, Old Age Homes our founder Samson and Day Care centres and the much needed Daniel and the work income generation Self Help Groups received of Mohni Sabharwal our consistent support. and other Presidents of HelpAge India. It is worth noting that all this work was made Through these years, possible only through the unstinted support we our work, our staff and volunteers have worked received from thousands of donors like you with the elderly, their associations, Elder Self across India and the private and public sector Help Groups and their elderly Federations, so companies who partner with so many of our that today we are indeed the representative voice programmes to make them successful. Finally, of India’s 100 million senior citizens ushering in it is the selfless work of individual members of an Elders for Elders movement. our staff who through the wide dispersion of HelpAge offices and sites across India ensure Reaching the poorest and the farthest, that no needy elder is left out, no matter which and among these, the destitute, the ill, the part of the country he or she resides in. abandoned, the neglected, the abused, all have constituted the core aspects of HelpAge India programmes and initiatives. Our advocacy initiatives aimed at securing Universal Pension and Medical Insurance continues with renewed thrust. We are extremely happy to say that we Mathew Cherian September, 2013 have reached out to 1.5 million poor elderly CEO New Delhi Annual Report 2012-13 • 3 Advocacy in Action A game of carrom at the recreation centre, Freedom Fighters Colony, Delhi The Active Ageing experiment that of this society would meet in the Centre. There worked! would be spirited games of carrom, chess, Bridge; a TV corner was also provided. Every Thursday, hese are the golden years for the evening recreation is “Ladies Only” and as enjoying life: laughing with friends, Mrs. Sunedha Sahani says, “We girls really let “Twalks with your spouse, good down our hair and play games which may amaze food, movies, games with the like- minded”, says our grandchildren.” “It is a great stress buster, Suresh Palta, President of the Senior Citizens’ and the 2 hours spent away from house work Society of The Freedom Fighters Colony in New really refreshes us,” adds Mrs Santosh Arora with Delhi. The spritely 72 years “young” is clearly a shy smile. Every month end, the entire group leading a life that is enviable but also so easy to of members meet for an evening of merriment, emulate. birthday cakes for all members whose birthdays fall during that month and quizzes with interesting Two years ago, HelpAge India donated a full gifts for contestants. set of Physiotherapy Equipment to this Senior Citizens’ Society; with these, the members found This is one group of elders who have truly a common cause uniting them. The Society rented shown what Active Ageing is all about! What is modest premises and a charitable Physiotherapy even more heartwarming is that the Society has clinic was started which was managed by the since added more Physiotherapy machines out of office bearers. Soon a Homeopathy clinic was their own funds. And this group came together to also started and this group of retirees managed donate a substantial amount towards the HelpAge its activities and spent their morning hours from Uttarakhand Relief efforts. Says Suresh Palta, 9 am to 1 pm very productively and happily. The “HelpAge India has helped us come together and shared activity built strong bonds and soon the changed the quality of our retirement years. Now group started Recreation Hours. Every evening it is our turn to support HelpAge.” We salute through the week, come rain or shine, members these Active Ageing practioneers. 10 • Annual Report 2012-13 A unique School for elders It is a school like any other school with classes, just the students are more eager and different this A novel idea was started in March of 2007, by time. Their mean age would be 65 on an average, a man who felt that senior citizens needed a but their excitement palpable! Everyday senior place to call their own. Late Pramod Navalkar citizens here get together and have classes from of Mumbai, who held many high posts in his 4:30 pm to 7 pm. It has a well stocked library and lifetime, did something few would dream of, he here the students become the teachers as well, helped develop a park catering specifically for with the senior citizens utilizing skills they’ve senior citizens. This was followed by a unique honed over the years, teaching Yoga, music, school for them called the Nana- Nani School religious texts, dance, drama and many more to set at Mumbai’s Charni Road. It is run today their classmates. under the mentorship of his wife Mrs. Vandana Navalkar. Says Vijay Mukadam, 71 years, “I come here because I like the group, the whole idea of older “I come here because of Mr. Navalekar. This was people coming together to learn new things like his dream. I’ve been here since its beginning. He music, exercise, bhajans, religious texts etc. This had an idea and started this school. I was whiling is a good way to spend time constructively.” She away time before this. I forget all my suffering encourages other senior citizens of neighborhood when I come here.” says 88 year old Shivaji V to join them as she wants them to learn new Kamat. His wife passed away 8 years ago and things like she does. since then its has been tough; he finds solace here along with likeminded friends and has lots of things to do. Elders unwind at the Nana-Nani School, Mumbai Annual Report 2012-13 • 11 Elderly demand Universal Pension Charter of Demands There are many elderly who are low wage • A Universal and Non Contributory Old workers, who work hard throughout their lives, Age Pension System to be established yet in their silver years who, in the absence of immediately by the government with a any social security, do not receive pension due minimum amount of monthly pension for the elderly.