One of the key strategies of HelpAge India to empower rural elderly is to institutionalize the local communities into Elderly Self Help Groups (ESHGs). The primary aim of forming and sustaining ESHGs is to enhance consciousness of elderly about their collective strength/power to help themselves and climb economically and socially whereby they can live with dignity. Consequently, 2200 EHGSs have been successfully formed and functioning as part of institutionalizing local communities. Today, ESHGs are being viewed as a sine qua non for any welfare & development work with elderly population worldwide.
As it is impractical to nurture groups for an indefinite duration, the major challenge becomes how to sustain the elderly self help groups after a project or time bound programme has been completed. As part of methodology, HelpAge India introduces the concept of Federations at different stages namely village level federations, cluster level federations, block level federations, and district level federations to promote sustainability to ESHGs in India.
Beside acting handholding, these federations also undertake activities of capacity building of groups. HelpAge India suggests following as model roles of any federation:
- Maintaining MIS of ESHGs in their geographical boundaries.
- Up scaling the number of ESHGs.
- Being registered bodies, acting as formal representatives of ESHGs.
- Taking over the groups from the promoting institutions/projects.
- Organizing and implementing skill up-gradation training and exposure visits for groups
- Undertaking assessment and evaluations pertaining to ESHGs.
- Partnering with CSO organizations competent enough in conducting grading of groups.
- Creating more linkages with financial institutions.
- Ensuring Micro-credit programme for ESHGs.
- Advocating for the rights & entitlement of older persons in India.
- Observation of :-
- UN International Day of Older Persons (on 1st of October)
- World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (on 15th of June)
- Organizing local, state and national level rallies, marches, agitations to address issues of rights & entitlements, injustices, discriminations, oppression and exploitation.
- Facilitating communication between ESHGs and government machineries
