Programmes at a Glance
Since the establishment of HelpAge India 33 years ago, much has changed with regard to senior citizens’ issues in India. Rapid increase in their total population (80+ age group currently being fastest growing), sweeping changes in family structure, living and lifestyles, longevity of life, the need to live independently and with dignity; and issues concerning elders in general such as personal security, financial security, respect and role in family and society, etc., all these have impacted senior citizens in one way or another.
Mapping and understanding needs of senior citizens thus became a priority and starting in 2007 HelpAge India initiated several national and regional surveys to elicit responses from senior citizens themselves. In a follow up to these surveys and a review of past activities, HelpAge India commenced an internal strategy planning exercise. The ‘new approach’ was endorsed and operationalized in November 2008.
Adopting the new approach makes it imperative for HelpAge India to change perceptions about elders in society and to also add considerably to its existing range and portfolio of activities, which till now had been largely welfare in nature. Four key focus areas now included are: Agecare and Social Protection, Healthcare, Advocacy and Value Education. Also, underlying principles of the new approach mandated specific operational changes. Significant among these are: articulating 10+1 common problems of elderly; working not for, but with the elders themselves; promoting ability criteria rather than the age criteria alone; and supporting opportunities for active ageing.
This Programme Profile, in its first edition, presents a snapshot of HelpAge India activities across the country, from Ladakh to Kanyakumari and from Gujarat to Assam. Also provided is an extract from the draft National Policy for Senior Citizens, 2011 which affirms that HelpAge India is strategically on
the right path.
