Nearly 70% of the elderly population lives in rural areas; 33% live in areas vulnerable to natural disasters and 93% of elders are in the unorganised sector. The unorganised sector is characterised by lack of financial, food & social security. It is also characterised by lack of statutory safeguards in adversity, available in the organised sector for bail out. This means, to survive, a person has to work till the last day of his/her life and therefore the rural elders are always in penury. |
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| Erosion of traditional social support family and community structures and dwindling livelihood options makes the rural elderly one of the most vulnerable segments of the population. |
HelpAge India over the past 5 years has pioneered and successfully implemented a model of sustainable agecare for rural elderly using a two pronged approach of addressing vulnerability and preparedness encompassing welfare, development and rights. Some of the important elements established which have proven to be successful are the self-help approach (elders for elders’) and access to elders’ rights and entitlements, often referred to as the rights-based approach.
Currently the rural agecare programme, which is now accepted as a proven, demonstrated and replicable model covers 27,000+ elderly in 6 states, 134 villages & 12 districts. Having established the demand side of the model of 400+ elder self-help groups and their federations the approach is expected to be further strengthened by facilitating the supply side (finance) through a socially responsible micro-finance institution of the elderly (SRmFIE), a unique and first-of-its-kind model.
