Concept of Elders Self Help Groups (ESHGs)

Elders Self Help Groups (ESHGs) can be understood as community based organizations of older people, aged 55 & above, aimed at improving living conditions for older people and ensuring a mechanism for social support in the community as well as for facilitating activities and delivering services and achieve

1. sustainable livelihoods
2. promoting a case that elders are bankable
3. improved self-esteem and respect from others in the community
4. lobbying and advocating for human rights of the elderly

The groups engage in saving & credits, advocacy & awareness raising and membership facilitate easier access to government services such as old age pension, NREGA, NRLM etc. An ESHG demonstrate following features:

1. group of 10-20 people aged 55 & above
2. completely male members, or completely female members or a mixed members
3. members residing in a common geographical boundaries primarily from the village
4. poor and marginalized older persons as members
5. older persons as members who respect group norms and procedures
6. members contribute a fixed amount towards group saving
7. regular meetings every month

The concept of “Elders Self Help Groups” has successfully demonstrated as a vehicle or agent for change for the poor and neglected older persons in rural India.

Process of Formation of an ESHG
The following 9 steps are recommended to be followed while forming Elders Self Help Groups.

Step 1:	Open meeting with village heads, target population (elders) on desired outcome of being organized into Self Help Groups.
Step 2:	Individual house visit for identification of potential, needy and aspiring elders.
Step 3:	Map where our target population (elders) are.
Step 4:	Identify homogeneous factors that bind elders.
Step 5:	Based on the proximity and homogeneity factors meet the elders individually and build rapport with the target groups.
Step 6:	Sensitize the target groups of the desired outcome of being organized and by-laws to be followed.
Step 7:	Organize a focused group discussion of 6-8 elders, those found to be interested to experience the processes and taste the outcomes. Ask whether they can find another 8-10 elders of similar aspiration to theirs.
Step 8:	Organize a meeting with desired 15-20 members, place the by-laws before them. Those who opt for it can be grouped together as an Elders Self Help Group.
Step 9:	Fix a meeting date then regularize the meeting with records, thrift and credit.