In Indian society, we put elders on centre stage, but lately the situation has changed. Seniors are not perceived as productive force and therefore are a low priority.Sharmila TagoreFormer Actress & UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador- I think India is the only country where we still believe in blessings and offer respect to seniors, touch their feet. Ustad Amjad Ali KhanSarod Player
- We need to be there for our community amid the pandemic. It's going to impact us in many ways but you can't make this about yourself, its about larger picture, about the community.Karan JoharDirector, Producer & TV personality
Senior citizens have been the worst hit as they are the most vulnerable, especially those above 80. These elderly citizens are at high risk for the coronavirus and, in some cases, are also fighting isolation poverty and neglect.
HelpAge India is reaching out to these seniors, in urban and rural areas, with food, medicines, information, counselling and anything else they may need during a lockdown.
Disadvantaged elders who are homeless or in night shelters, and those in old age homes, are being given free meals, family survival kits with basic rations, protective hygiene kits with masks and handwash, free medicines & healthcare and hospital transportation.
Join NDTV and HelpAge India in raising funds to protect the people who protected us all our lives.
HelpAge India voices the concerns of India’s elderly. Formed in 1978, its mission is “to work for the cause and care of disadvantaged older persons and to improve their quality of life”.
Currently, there is an estimated 106 million elderly in India. HelpAge has interventions in elder healthcare, agecare, livelihood and advocacy.
It advocates for their needs such as for universal pension, quality healthcare, food security, action against Elder Abuse and many more at the national, state and societal level with Central and State governments. It advocates for elder-friendly policies and their implementation thereof.
The aim is to serve elder needs in a holistic manner, enabling them to live active, dignified and healthier lives.
Family Survival Kits
This includes basic ration like Atta (Wheat flour), Dal (pulses) Spices, Sugar, cooking oil along with Corona protective gear like masks, bathing and washing soaps, detergent etc. for disadvantaged elders and their family.
Elder Helpline
(1800-180-1253) which rescues of abandoned elders, deals with cases of abuse and abandonment, provides groceries and medication to elders during the lockdown, counsels those in distress, information related to services available etc. The helpline works as the co-ordination unit linking elders to various institutions such as old age homes, hospitals, geriatric specialists, police, government etc.
Protective Hygiene Kits
This is for elders and their family, to fight COVID 19 which include Sanitizers, Mask, Tissues, Handwash etc.
Free Medicines and Healthcare
In many states our Mobile Healthcare Unit (MHU) teams are reaching out to elder beneficiaries suffering from chronic ailments and delivering them their much-needed medications, through home visits and within their community. In some areas, our Mobile Healthcare Units, are operating as an ambulance as per the request of district officers and local authorities are transporting patients to hospitals for their treatments and check-ups. Each MHU has a doctor, pharmacist and a social worker. The Unit also educates and makes elders & their family members aware of the preventive measures in case of diseases such as COVID etc. We have nearly 160 MHUs spread across the country. Many elders also cannot afford to go to private hospitals or walk long distances to the local Primacy Healthcare centre or Govt hospitals, where the lines are invariably long and they are unable to stand. This MHU is their only source of free healthcare, helping them live a healthy and dignified life.
Elder-Self-Help-Groups
Support to rural destitute Elder-Self-Help–Groups, who have lost all their earnings and savings during this disaster, and have no other livelihood or means of survival.
NDTV is the broadcast partner for a 2-hour telethon by HelpAge India to raise donations to meet the basic needs of the elderly most affected by the lockdown imposed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The donations are received by HelpAge India and shall be utilized according to a plan prepared and monitored by them.
NDTV has no role to play in the use of donations and will not be liable for any claim(s) made by any person or entity, including any statutory or governmental authority, arising out of the collection or utilization of these donations.