MARY KANNAMPUZHA JOSE

ADM NO: HPGD/JL14/1132

SOCIAL CAUSE: OLD AGE IS GOLD AGE
NGO: HELP AGE INDIA.

PRIN.L.N.WELINGKAR INSTITUTE OF
MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT & RESEARCH.
YEAR OF SUBMISSION: 2015

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 Declaration

I, Mary Kannampuzha, student of Prin.L.N.Welingkar Institute of

Management Development & Research, with admission
no.HPGD/JL14/1132, hereby declare that I have completed this project
on ISR Old Age disability, NGO HELP AGE INDIA, in the academic
year 2015.
The Information submitted is true and original to the best of my
Knowledge.

Mary Kannampuzha.

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 Table of Contents

Topic Page No

Executive Summary 4

Introduction :
Social Responsibility 5
Corporate social Responsibility 6
Individual social responsibility 8
NGOs working towards the cause Old Age Disability 10

NGO HELP AGE INDIA 15

About Help Age India 17
What they do? 18
How do they manage the operations? 19
Idea generation behind Help Age India. 20
Services that are offered. 21
i. Mobile Health care & cataract surgery
ii. Physiocare & cancer care 22
iii. Health Camps & Disaster Management 23
iv. Active ageing centre & Support a Gran 24
v. Livelihood Support & Old age Homes 25
vi. Elder Helplines & Researches 27
One of the case in Point Rajaram Ganpath Patil 29
Want to get involved with Help Age India - -this is how 30
Awards & Recognitions 31
Partners with Help Age India 33
Boards of Directors and Management team. 34
Major Donors to Help Age India. 35

Conclusion 37

Bibliography & Webliography 38

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 Executive Summary

The Project attempts to give an idea about various individual social

responsibilities (ISR) and awareness about the requirement of how
we as individuals can perform our social responsibility.

The social cause on which I have worked on in this project is Aged

people with disability.

A brief insight is given on NGO Help Age India, working on elderly

people caring and sharing and bring back in the second own
house. The aim of Help Age India is to help and support the Aged
people who are faced with social causes so that they could have a
normal living and be a part of togetherness in society. The same is
the subject of the project.

Finally an attempt is made to capture the doing of Help Age India in

a video, highlighting their work and support towards the Gold Age
people.

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 Social Responsibility

Social responsibility is an ethical framework which suggests that an entity, be it

an organization or individual, has an obligation to act for the benefit of society at
large. Social responsibility is a duty every individual has to perform so as to maintain
a balance between the economy and the ecosystems.

Social responsibility means sustaining the equilibrium between the two. It pertains
not only to business organizations but also to everyone whos any action impacts the
environment. This responsibility can be passive, by avoiding engaging in socially
harmful acts, or active, by performing activities that directly advance social goals.

Each of us is a being in himself and a being in society, each of us

needs to understand himself and understand others, take care of others
and take care of himself.

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 Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate social responsibility (CSR, also called corporate conscience, corporate
citizenship or responsible business) is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated
into a business model. CSR policy functions as a self-regulatory mechanism
whereby a business monitors and ensures its active compliance with the spirit of the
law, ethical standards and international norms. With some models, a firm's
implementation of CSR goes beyond compliance and engages in "actions that
appear to further some social good, beyond the interests of the firm and that which is
required by law."

The term "corporate social responsibility" became popular in the 1960s and has
remained a term used indiscriminately by many to cover legal and moral
responsibility more narrowly construed. SR aims to embrace responsibility for
corporate actions and to encourage a positive impact on the environment
and stakeholders including consumers, employees, investors, communities, and
others.

Key CSR issues: environmental management, eco-efficiency, responsible sourcing,

stakeholder engagement, labour standards and working conditions, employee and
community relations, social equity, gender balance, human rights, good governance,
and anti-corruption measures.

A properly implemented CSR concept can bring along a variety of competitive

advantages, such as enhanced access to capital and markets, increased sales and
profits, operational cost savings, improved productivity and quality, efficient human
resource base, improved brand image and reputation, enhanced customer loyalty,
better decision making and risk management processes.

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 CSR is not a new concept in India. Ever since their inception, corporate like the Tata
Group, the Group, and Indian Oil Corporation, to name a few have been involved in
serving the community. Through donations and charity events, many other
organizations have been doing their part for the society. The basic objective of CSR
in these days is to maximize the company's overall impact on the society and
stakeholders. CSR policies, practices and programs are being comprehensively
integrated by an increasing number of companies throughout their business
operations and processes. A growing number of corporate feel that CSR is not just
another form of indirect expense but is important for protecting the goodwill and
reputation, defending attacks and increasing business competitiveness.

CSR has gone through many phases in India. The ability to make a significant
difference in the society and improve the overall quality of life has clearly been
proven by the corporate. Not one but all corporate should try and bring about a
change in the current social situation in India in order to have an effective and lasting
solution to the social woes. Partnerships between companies, NGOs and the
government should be facilitated so that a combination of their skills such as
expertise, strategic thinking, manpower and money to initiate extensive social
change will put the socio-economic development of India on a fast track.

Under the Companies Act, 2013, any company having a net worth of rupees 500
crore or more or a turnover of rupees 1,000 crore or more or a net profit of rupees 5
crore or more should mandatorily spend at least 2% of last 3 years average net
profits on CSR activities as specified in Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013
and as amended from time to time. The rules came into effect from 1 April 2014 .

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 Individual Social responsibility

Individual Social Responsibility (ISR) is about an individual becoming responsible in

his/her actions that have affected on communities outside his/her immediate circle.
The immediate circle being family and friends. There can be an argument about also
including family and friends, but it would be rather pertinent to include them as part
of Individual Personal Responsibility.

"The individual social responsibility includes the engagement of each person towards
the community where he lives, which can be expressed as an interest towards
whats happening in the community, as well as in the active participation in the
solving of some of the local problems. Under community we understand the village,
the small town or the residential complex in the big city, where lives every one of us.
Each community lives its own life that undergoes a process of development all the
time. And everyone of us could take part in that development in different ways, for
example by taking part in cleaning of the street on which he lives, by taking part in
organization of an event, connected with the history of the town or the village or by
rendering social services to children without parents or elderly people. The individual
social responsibility also could be expressed in making donations for significant for
the society causes social, cultural or ecological. There are many ways of donating,
as for example donating of goods or donating money through a bank account or
online".

Student Social Responsibility: this is a responsibility of all students for

his/her actions. It is morally binding on everyone to act in such a way that the
people immediately around them are not adversely affected. It is a
commitment everyone has towards the society contributing to social, cultural
and ecological causes. SSR is based on an individuals ethics.

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Some of Social Responsibilities are mentioned
below :

Keeping in View the limitation of the project, we cannot cover on each and every
factors mentioned above. We will narrow our view on one of the topics that is
working towards the aged in the society focusing mainly on their needs and
disability.

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 FEW NGOS WORKING TOWARDS DEVELOPM ENT FOR AGED
DISABLITY

1. AISCCON: All India Senior Citizens confederation:

Purpose: Formed in 2001, AISCCON is the largest national organisation to

bring together and represent senior citizens across India. Today this
federations/ associations affiliated to it from 14 states in India.

It devotes itself to networking, advocacy and research on the issues

concerning welfare and development of senior citizens with governments at
both the state and national level. The organisation also provides services
activities including health care (Physio-therapy services, eye care services
and other advisory services).

2. DIGNITY FOUNDATION KOLKATA/CHENNAI

Purpose: We are committed to changing the way people look at ageing in

India. We enable senior citizens to lead active lives through easy access to
trusted information, opportunities for productive ageing and social support
services.

The Goals of the foundation are twofold:

To rid the minds of the senior citizens of the fear that age means decline
and retirement means loneliness, isolation, loss of prestige and so on. The
Foundation works assiduously to re-instil in the elderly minds the
confidence that age and productivity are not mutually exclusive. It does
this by utilising their experience and maturity in activities that serve the
needs of the community.
The other goal is achieved by attending to the needs of the elderly whose
social support systems have weakened or are non-existent.

The Dignity Foundation vision is to create an enlightened society in which senior

citizens feel secure, confident and valued, and can live with dignity.

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 3. THE FAMILY WELFARE AGENCY MUMBAI

Purpose: The Family Welfare Agency (FWA) has been established since 1950 in the
city of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It is a voluntary social organization, registered
under the Bombay Public Trust Act of 1950.

The agency has developed from working with general community based issues to
providing specialized services in the field of Ageing and Mental Health. The FWA
has worked at three levels preventive, promotive and curative within the community
and nearby areas. The agency has, thus progressed from remedial to therapeutic
and has now broadened its approach with a social development perspective,
emphasis on integrating approaches. This integrated development approach has
been instrumental in enhancing the quality of life along with peoples participation to
achieve the same.

In 1979, FWA initiated need based day services for the elderly, such as recreational,
educational, medical and income generating activities at a micro level. The agency
has been sensitive and proactive to the needs of senior citizens before the
Government recognised the need for day care services to reach out to them. Hence,
the development and growth of FWA at the micro level in the field of elder care is
significant.

4. SILVER INNING FOUNDATION MUMBAI

Purpose : We at SIF provide elderly care by counseling, elder helpline; need base
services, advocacy and networking and many more. To uphold and secure the rights
of elderly and actively work towards improving their quality of life by networking,
advocating.

Our vision is of an elder friendly world in which ageing becomes a positive and
rewarding experience.

Counselling.
Elder Helpline.
Need base services.
Research & Development.

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5. AGEWELL FOUNDATION DELHI

Purpose: Agewell Foundation, India is a not-for-profit NGO which has been

working for the welfare and empowerment of older persons since 1999.
Agewell has set up a two-tier network of over 7500 primary and 80000
secondary volunteers spread across 640 districts of India and interacts with
over 25000 older persons on daily basis through its volunteers network.

Old age is an unavoidable part of our life cycle and should be lived gracefully
rather than grudgingly. In todays fast paced world we only start noticing signs
of old age much after the gradual process is well underway.

Important aspects of life that foundation provides for the aged:

Interaction center for older people
Monitoring & evaluation center
Training program
Free Health care campaign
Sharing the warmth campaign
Reflection on social development

6. JANASEVA FOUNDATION PUNE

Purpose: Janaseva Foundation believes that service to people around is the
true form of service to God. Since its inception in 1988 this simple truth
became the guiding principle and motto of those who made the Foundation
over the years. For them serving was synonymous with helping the helpless,
irrespective of their caste, creed, community or colour. Janaseva Foundation
strives to serve this goal by being a care provider to the weakest of the weak:
the elderly, the disabled, the disaster-stricken and the destitute. At the same
time it looks to the development of the human mind and intellect through its
wing devoted to education and training. The humanitarian cause is prime to its
existence, against this overriding goal, the cost considerations recede in the
background.
Activities:
Healthcare
Elderly Care
Disabled care
Destitute care
Education & Research
Seminars and workshops.
Driving Training.

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 7. SHEOWS ASHRAM DELHI

Purpose: SHEOWS is currently running two Vridh Ashrams under the

National Programmed of Vridh Seva Abhiyan of SHEOWS, since 29 Nov. 2003.
About 70 helpless, mentally and physically sick, destitute olds are being admitted to
our Ashrams by Delhi Police from different Police Stations of Delhi as well as from
the Govt. Hospitals and Social Workers.

Facilities:
Adequate bedding: Currently there are 100 beds. Planning to add 500 more beds
soon.
Natural and Nutritious food: Free breakfast, lunch and dinner is provided. It can be
sponsored by any donor. Click Here to Know More
Medical aid round the Clock: 24 hours availability of 1 doctor and 1 nurse. In-
house clinic with physiotherapy facility. Visiting doctor on alternative days for
routine check-up.
Recreation arrangements: Spiritual healing, yoga, meditation and music therapy,
Kalyan Reiki, Bhajan Mantra, dance and carom etc.
Restoration: We have helped 80 people to go back and live with their family and
beloved ones.
Dying Care Unit: This unit brings the serious accident victims lying on road side to
our treatment facility where they are taken care off.

8. ANANDAM CHENNAI
Purpose: Vicissitudes of life have contributed to the misery of elders with no
one to depend on, no means of income, no emotional security making them
destitute with a big question mark over their head about how to carry on with
their lives and their only asset is their will to survive. To afford a helping hand
to these senior citizens, Anandam was created.

Facilities:
To move to own well designed premises to accommodate 100 elderly people
To provide in-house medical facilities and physiotherapy
To provide a place for prayer, yoga, meditation, recreation, library and other needs
To develop organic kitchen garden to make ANANDAM self sufficient.
Care and affection also is a large part of Anandams philosophy. On a regular basis,
this is provided by well-wishers and daily visits by the Trustees of Anandam.

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 9. SOBHA MEMORIAL CHARITABLE TRUST KERALA

Purpose: The intended activities of the trust are to provide whatever

possible physical and financial assistance to poor and needy people in our
villages for medical, educational and other social needs. The Trust also
intends to establish an old age retreatTharavadu meeting international
standards on hygiene, healthcare and safety to provide good community living
to the elderly people in our society who are financially sound but are left alone
due to circumstances beyond the control of their children.

Facilities:
Tharavadu offers you convenience, comfort and dedicated service, all under
one roof, so that you live life with abundant happiness, freedom and love and
above all, enjoy your Golden Years
Trust has opened its free Ayurveda and Allopathic Outpatient Clinic from 4th
September 2011. Free consultancy is provided to the residents
of tharavadu and general public on a part time basis at the moment.
The Trust has already commenced its charitable activities by providing
assistance to financially weaker families to build and own their own house,
financial assistance to families for the marriage of their children, medical
assistance to people who are unable to support their own hospitalization
expenses themselves etc.

10. HELP AGE INDIA MUMBAI

Purpose: To support the aged and make them feel their due importance in
the society by reaching their maximum happiness and sharing their life
together.

In this project I have tried to peep into the working of NGO Help Age India
and have attempted to know their way of operation by going through their
history and knowing their involvement for the betterment of the elderly people.

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Vision: To work for the cause and care of disadvantaged older persons and
to improve their quality of life.

Mission: Help Age envisions a society where elderly have the right to an
active, healthy and dignified life.

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 After all the hard work of their life, there comes a stage
when they is no one even to look after or fed them

In today Nuclear family it is a total dispute and the elder

are never reached out for support, left all alone.

Even in public places, none to reach out to them.

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 About: Help Age India
What began as a humble initiative from a rented two room office in New Delhi's
Kasturba Gandhi Marg has now blossomed into an extensive operation spread
across 26 states with 90 project offices in India and headquartered at the capital's
Qutab Institutional Area.

HelpAge India came into being in 1978 with Cecil Jackson Cole, founder of HelpAge
International (UK), as its first President. Around this time two other men figured
prominently in the HelpAge India story - John F. Pearson and Samson Daniel.

We are integrating our programs and services, and consciously moving from welfare
towards development and long term sustainability for seniors. We are working
closely with Senior Citizen Associations and encouraging seniors to speak up for
their own rights.

We are actively working as a pressure group and focusing on Elder Rights such as
the Right to adequate Health Insurance, Right to Universal Pension and working
towards providing elders a society with age appropriate services.

In our continuing fight against poverty, isolation and neglect of elders though we
have made significant strides, but they are just a drop in the ocean.

Hoping to achieve the following milestones by the year 2020:

Livelihood security for two million elderly through institutions of elderly

Health security for two million elderly
A National movement of elders that gives them a voice and political constituency
Age appropriate services to 12 million elderly in partnership with government, private
sector and civil society.

The aim is to help elders rebuild their own lives and take
charge of their own future, restoring within them a sense
of self worth and confidence.

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 Help Age India...What They Do?
At present 95 million people in India are above the age of 60, by the year 2025
nearly 80 million more will be added to this population bracket. With improved life
expectancy rate in our country, its estimated that as many as 8 million people are
currently above the age of 80 years. Changing family value system, economic
compulsions of the children, neglect and abuse has caused elders to fall through the
net of family care. Homes for the Aged are ideal for elderly people who are alone,
face health problems, depression and loneliness.

Over the past several years, Help Age India extended financial support for
infrastructure development and provided assistive devices to nearly 90 such
institutions around the country. Help Age India has also compiled a list of 484
Homes for the Aged in 16 cities of the country with information about basic facilities,
key features and contact details of these Homes, available on Help Age Indias
website.

Field Operation:
Tamaraikulam Elders Village (TEV): Recognized as a model demonstration
project by the Government of Tamil Nadu, TEV is the first Home for the Aged
constructed by Help Age India. Situated in Cuddalore, about 20 km from Pondicherry,
the construction of this Home for the Aged was made possible by the generous
donations from viewers of NDTV. This model age care, free stay facility for rural poor
has a capacity for 100 persons. TEV has multiple age friendly facilities and is self-
sufficient in terms of energy and food. Active residents raise livestock, look after a
fish pond, a vegetable plot, a greenhouse and a rice paddy field. As part of their
income-generating activities, they produce items such as toiletries, banana-leaf rope,
straw bags and pickles for sale in order to raise money for TEV. The residents have
excellent healthcare facilities, practice active ageing techniques, participate in
community meetings, celebrate festivals and are also involved in recreational
activities with local community and Panchayat. TEV takes care of all the needs of its
elders and provides them emotional and physical care.
Kalyan Ashram, Kolkata: Located in Chetla (South Kolkata), this donated two-
storey home has been converted into model age care facility for elderly women.
Managed by Help Age India Kalyan Ashram has a capacity for 10 persons with all the
age friendly amenities essential for a Home for the Aged. The residents have access
to excellent healthcare services and physiotherapy care. The facility also serves as a
service hub for senior citizens of Kolkata and surrounding areas, providing support
through a toll free elders helpline, physiotherapy care and medical services. Services
to 38 Homes for the Aged of Kolkata are provided from this facility.

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How do they manage the operation at Help Age India?
The Help Age India is managed by different sponsors/volunteer & corporates
to help and support for the operations at Help age India.

There are several programs that are managed by corporates like camps for
medical checkup and donations of food /clothing or in financial terms.

Help Age India has numerous programs to aims for lifestyle happiness of the
elderly persons in the organization.

Help Age India believes that the ageing process should not lead to the
surrender of all independence in a residential care home. Along with catering
to their needs, the homes must lend itself to the participation, involvement,
independence and dignity of its residents. The Homes for the Aged directly
managed by Help Age functions on a strict protocol where high standards are
maintained with respect to the design and construction of the building, age
friendly facilities and competent staff. The residents are actively involved with
the management of the homes and participate enthusiastically in productive
aging activities. These homes are more than just a place to pass the
remainder of the lives; it's an abode for the elderly where they can support
one other both emotionally and spiritually.

Celebration time

Support by volunteering

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 Idea Generation behind Help Age India

Help Age India has always worked to accurately account for and report the financial
position of the Society, to promote sound financial management, and to provide
quality services to the donors. The centralized finance function is performed from the
Headquarters at Delhi and serves the needs of all the offices across the country. It
ensures that all transactions adhere to the Society's policies and procedures,
generally accepted accounting principles, and rules established by the statutory
bodies.
Help Age India values a culture of accountability and integrity committed to doing the
right thing. Help Age India was among the pioneers in the sector to implement ERP
based accounting software which enables strong internal controls and checks and
balances to ensure that its financial reports are reliable, operations are effective and
its activities compliant with applicable laws and regulations.

From the CEOs Desk - Help Age India:

This year, Help Age India introduced a call to seniors to practice Active Ageing. The
Advantage programmed encouraging this practice is being rolled out by Help Age
India and will extend manifold opportunities for seniors to bond with peers and
engage in socially useful community work. These activities will ensure a physically
and mentally active life for seniors, a prerequisite to healthy living. During the year,
Help Age India met the challenges posed by two major natural disasters that affected
millions of people in Uttarakand and Odessa. In both cases, comprehensive relief
was delivered quickly, efficiently and transparently.

A significant feature of the anniversary celebrations on April 28th was the release of
a book documenting the work of Help Age India Out of the shadows into light: The
saga of age care in India. As the name suggests this journey closely parallels the
evolution of age care in the country which Help Age India pioneered and today,
leads.

The efforts of Help Age were further recognized when it received a award for
transparency and excellence in financial reporting in the not for profit sector by
"Institute of Chartered Accountants of India" for three consecutive years. Help Age
was also awarded the Best Presented Accounts and Corporate Governance
Disclosure Award 2010, in the NGO category by the South Asian Federation of
Accountants

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 Services that are offered at Help Age India

Mobile Medical Units (MMU): In a nation where the reach of the public
health facilities is dismal and where private health care is prohibitively
expensive, the old in their post retirement years face enormous difficulty in
accessing any kind of medical attention. In addition to this is the problem of
near absence of geriatric medical skill and treatment. There are over 80
million elders over the age of 80 in the country, almost totally bereft of
specialized attention that they require. The situation that Help Age India faces
in reaching its Health Care outreach programs to the elderly in urban and rural
areas is truly challenging.
What is Help Age India Doing?

To reach basic healthcare to one million disadvantaged rural and urban people,
particularly the elderly in under-served communities, especially in remote
geographical location and difficult terrain. In the next two years establish and operate
at least one Mobile health clinic in each of the poorest 200 districts of the country
and extend it over the next three years to cover all 621 districts.

The Help Age mobile health care services are designed to reach free healthcare to
disadvantaged elders in rural and urban areas. On-site health care services include
doctor consultation, basic diagnostics, medicines and home visits for bedridden
patients. Linkage to local health facilities ensures referrals to specialist doctors. The
team of health care providers consists of a doctor, pharmacist, paramedic, patient
facilitator and is supervised by a qualified social worker.
Typically, each MMU works six days a week, reaching the first site around 9.00 AM
and works till 5 PM. It covers a cluster of 10-15 community sites/villages on a weekly
schedule averaging 200 km per week. Thus, each MMU targets to reach medical
services to 100-150 patients per day in remote rural locations and around 200
patients in urban areas. Annually, each MMU provides approximately 30,000
treatments.

Cataract Surgeries: Every year thousands of cataract surgeries are

performed all over India through a network of specialized hospitals and
organizations dedicated and working for eye care. Through this partnership
with HelpMeSee, Help Age hopes to increase its reach furthermore and
restore sight to more and more destitute elders."

81 per cent of blind cases in India is due to cataract

2 million new cases of cataract are reported every year in India
1 ophthalmologist for 100,000 people in India
60-69 year olds are at 2.74 times greater risk of losing vision
70+ are at 4.86 times greater risk of losing vision

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What is Help Age India Doing?

In the last 30 years, Help Age India has supported nearly 850,000 surgeries on poor
and needy older persons by partnering with nearly 400 organizations (eye hospitals,
trusts, NGOs). Every year, more than 20000 cataract surgeries are performed all
over the country with support from Help Age India through credible and competent
Eye Hospitals; and organizations working in the field of eye-care. The project
includes awareness generation in the community, the catchment area of the
organization, on eye care, prevention of eye diseases/infections, precautions to be
taken during infections etc.

8,50,000 Treatments provided since 1980.As per the report there has been 9,870
Cataract surgeries conducted in the year 2014-2015.
Operation is the only cure for Cataract. Only when the hazy lens is replaced with an
intraocular lens, the light rays can once more focus on the retina. The Cataract
operation should be performed as soon as the cataract starts having an effect on the
everyday activities of an individual. One should not let the cataract to spread too
much as the harder the cataract gets the more problematic the surgery turns out to
be. Unnecessary delay can cause unnecessary difficulties.

Physiocare Programmes: Every individual hopes to live an independent life

with dignity and carry out daily activities of their life, unassisted. However, the
natural process of ageing is accompanied by host of degenerative physical
problems such as reduced muscle power and tone, reduced range of motion
and bone density.
With this in mind, Help Age India provides Physiocare that is aimed at
enabling and supporting the elderly to maintain their fitness and mobility level,
enhance their independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) as well as
improve their self-confidence and self-esteem.

What is Help Age India Doing?

The physiotherapy clinics are operational in 70 locations all over the country in 23
states and are open six days a week from 9:15 AM to 5:15 PM on weekdays, and
from 10 AM to 2 PM on Saturdays. The services are provided through stationary
clinics, mobile services to remote communities, residents of homes for the aged and
elders living at home.

Physiotherapists are duly qualified and registered with the IAP (Indian Association of
Physiotherapists); patient registration cards are maintained by the clinic for records
and clinical research; monthly reports are sent to HI head office along with case
studies.

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 Cancer Care: The single greatest risk factor for developing cancer is ageing.
Prolonged exposure to carcinogens, reduced DNA repairing ability, genetic
instability, decreased carcinogens metabolism and decreased immune
surveillance dramatically increase the incidence of cancer in the elderly. In
India demographically this population is increasing - a 280 percent increase in
cancer rate is expected to occur by 2050. Cancer treatment in our country is
highly priced and health insurance only benefits the upper and middle
classes. In most cancer hospitals, needy elderly patients have to wait for
months for diagnosis, preparing funds, seeking expert opinion and getting
appointments from surgeons. Insufficient cancer treatment facilities and lack
of early screening, resulting from poor public health system in the country has
led to large numbers of cancer cases being reported too late for them to
benefit from any long term treatment.

What is Help Age India Doing?

Help age India, also serves as a cancer care charity for elders. Therefore its the
biggest challenge has been to provide sustained healthcare intervention for needy
elderly cancer patients. Even the most basic cancer treatment lasts for at least a
year. As the treatment costs are very high, many cancer patients are not able to
finish a complete cancer treatment program. What is more heart breaking is that
many elderly who are unable to collect the necessary funds for cancer treatment
dont opt for treatment at all.

Help Age India has been in partnership with number of credible and competent
cancer hospitals and organizations for carrying out cancer treatments which include
cancer surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy. These partners also conduct cancer
awareness and cancer detection camps. Thus from cancer detection and treatment
our partners have been able to deliver quality cancer care for elders in need of such
intervention. Ever since Help Age India began its intervention in Cancer Care
services for the elders, it has given support of more than Rs. 6.73 Crores to 29
hospitals and institutions in 11 states across the country. 25,000 Elderly have been
screened for cancer and over 10,000 treatments provided. The target for next five
years is to provide cancer treatment for 2000 needy elderly cancer patients.

Health Camps: India after decades of independence is still struggling to

provide basic health care facilities to its citizens. Provisions for basic health
care services especially in rural India are few and far between. Its an
understood reality that the elderly fall way behind in receiving these services.

What is Help Age India Doing?

An important feature of Help Age India's health care initiative for the elderly is
organizing health camps in rural as well as urban areas of the country. Since 2010,
Help Age in association with its network has successfully organised both general and
specialized health camps for the elderly. A general camp team comprises of general

23
physician, pharmacist and assistant .A specialised health camp has a team of
specialised doctors like dentists, ophthalmologists, gynaecologist, orthopaedic
besides general physician, pharmacist and assistant. The health camps ensuring
diagnosis, treatment and referrals for general ailments, dental care, gynaecological
conditions and ophthalmic diseases are carried out. These camps also focus on
preventive health care program through Information, Education and Communication
and Behaviour Change Communication activities among the community.

Disaster Management: Natural calamities reveal that in the struggle for

survival, the elderly are usually the last in the line and lost in the crowd, and
therefore suffer the most. In a country like India, with its vastly different
climatic and geographical zones, reaching survivors of natural calamities is a
huge challenge. Given the size of its population and the dense habitation,
disasters affect people by the hundreds of thousands, causing unacceptable
fatalities and destroying families and homes. Floods, earthquakes,
cloudbursts and even tsunamis are now a regular feature in diverse parts of
India.

What is Help Age India Doing?

Help Age India started its disaster intervention programs in the year 1980. The first
of its kind among voluntary organizations, the Help Age India unit was trained and
equipped to bring swift and effective counter measures in the face of disasters. It
carried out its first operation during the catastrophic floods in Uttar Pradesh and did
significant work in the remote villages of the Sitapur and Jaunpur districts. The unit
carried its own tents, tarpaulins and cooking equipment, making no demands on
local resources, which is a major relief factor during such emergencies. Along the
way, Help Age India has evolved innovative solutions as well. For example, setting
up grain banks in small villages eliminates the need of victims to queue up for food-
aid packages. These grain banks are entrusted to the elderly in each village to run.
This also ensures a sense of solidarity in the community and a sense of respect
among the people of the village for the elderly.
Today, Help age India's disaster response model is equipped to rush in quickly to
reach out not only to the elderly but also to the community at large at times of large
scale disasters, providing relief with food, clothing and shelter to establishing long-
lasting rehabilitation programs. Which is why, Help Age India could immediately
respond to disasters such as the earthquakes in Gujarat and J&K, floods in Assam,
Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, cloudbursts in Leh and Uttarakand, tsunamis in Tamil
Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odessa. It raised donations, provided medical and
survival relief and help establish long term rehabilitation projects.

Advantage - Active Ageing Centres:Most elders find themselves at a loss

after an active work life, with no place to go, no colleagues and often no
support group. Studies indicate that in most cases this leads to a feeling of
complete isolation, neglect and loss of confidence and self-worth leading to
depression and health problems. This is a serious situation calling for urgent

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 remedial action. The consequences of not doing so are alarming considering
that Indias elderly population is projected to reach 200 million by 2030.
According to health professionals, elders who are part of a social or work group fare
much better in terms of physical and emotional well-being. The solution seems to lie
in like-minded elders forming small groups and working together on socially useful
projects which not only benefits society but is of immense benefit to the elders
themselves as it keeps them socially engaged and imparts a sense of self-worth.
Which is why, Help Age India, the countrys leading advocate of Active Ageing has
launched unique programs that strive to meet these objectives.

What is Help Age India Doing?

Help Age has always encouraged Senior Citizen Associations to form small groups
of like-minded people to engage in community work. However, it was soon realized
that these groups of elders need a physical space with at least a minimal
infrastructure for them to come together to engage in social work and pursue their
interests. Hence, there was an urgent need for Advantage Centers. Help Age India
envisages setting up Advantage Centers across the country. This follows the
successful Advantage Active Ageing programs and is structured along the lines of
the already well established Age care Centers supported by Help Age India in
multiple locations.

The centre will be set up at a location which belongs to or is rented by a Senior

Citizen Association and will be managed by elders. While the initial start-up
infrastructure would be funded, the socially useful work that the elders will engage in
is required to become self-funding by the seniors within a specified time
period. Additionally, since it is accepted that physiotherapy provides help in
prolonging active life for many elders, and is also much in demand, the centres are
to be equipped with a set of physiotherapy machines and a trained physiotherapist.
The centre charges a token therapy charge from non-members which contributes
towards the running cost of the centre.

Support a Gran: Thousands of elderly, living in both urban and rural areas,
have to make do with inadequate medical facilities; many of them are living
below the poverty line. This segment includes, in addition to impoverished
elderly men and women, widows who are illiterate older than 60 years. They
are one of the most disadvantaged sections in the Indian society. The
situation is grim for old people in our society. If there is no intervention now,
the situation will only get worse.
What is Help Age India Doing?

Known earlier as Adopt-a-Gran, Support-a-Gran, is Help Age Indias way of

extending a lifeline of support for elders with no family, financial or social support.
Under this program, donors sponsor the basic needs of elderly people. Help Age
India launched development programs aimed at involving elderly persons in income
generation through the revival and upgradation of traditional crafts, cottage industries
and animal husbandry units. The major thrust of the programs remains that of
organizing the elderly as a group and increasing their participation in individual and
group based income generating activities. They are involved in procuring raw

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materials, managing the production process, and in marketing the finished products
through Apni Dukans which are self managing and self-sustaining units of
production. Revolving loans facilitated these small enterprises to enable a life of
dignity for many senior citizens.

(Reached out to1284 rural and destitute across 17 states through the Support
a Gran program in year 2014-2015.)

Livelihood support: India had 90 million elderly persons in 2011, with the
number expected to grow to 173 million by 2026. Of the 90 million seniors, 30
million are living alone, and 90 per cent work for their livelihood. The number
of elderly women is more than that of elderly men. Nearly three out of five
single older women are very poor, and two out of three rural elderly women
are fully dependent on others for want of appropriate livelihood opportunities
towards economic security.

With poor social security arrangements for the elderly, it is not surprising that
around 37 million elderly in India need to work in order to survive. A majority
of these workers are illiterate or have limited levels of education. Rural Elderly
have been doubly disadvantaged as the access issues common to rural areas
to health, economic and development services are only exacerbated due to
the fact that the elderly are invisible and unorganized.

What is Help Age India Doing?

In order to decrease the socio-economic vulnerability of older persons, particularly

the disadvantaged in the rural areas, Help Age works with these elders to set up and
build Elder Self-help Groups (ESHGs) into viable and sustainable groups and to
facilitate their federation at local and district level.

It aids these Groups by accessing adequate doses of financing for their institution
and investing in livelihoods assets like processing units, pump sets, agriculture
equipment etc. It also actively strives to reach various government entitlements to
the village elderly. Further, Help Age invests in imparting knowledge and skills to
local volunteers and develops them as village level Para professionals working
towards the institutions of poor elderly. Currently, Help Age is working closely with
3241 Rural Elders Self Help Groups in different states.

(Supports5394 Elder Self Help Groups involving 71.272 senior citizens across
17 states).

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 Old Age Homes: At present 95 million people in India are above the age of
60, by the year 2025 nearly 80 million more will be added to this population
bracket. With improved life expectancy rate in our country, its estimated that
as many as 8 million people are currently above the age of 80 years.
Changing family value system, economic compulsions of the children, neglect
and abuse has caused elders to fall through the net of family care. Homes for
the Aged are ideal for elderly people who are alone, face health problems,
depression and loneliness.
What is Help Age India Doing?

Over the past several years, Help Age India extended financial support for
infrastructure development and provided assistive devices to nearly 90 such
institutions around the country. Help Age India has also compiled a list of 484
Homes for the Aged in 16 cities of the country with information about basic
facilities, key features and contact details of these Homes, available on Help
Age Indias website.
Tamaraikulam Elders Village (TEV): Recognized as a model
demonstration project by the Government of Tamil Nadu, TEV is the
first Home for the Aged constructed by Help Age India. Situated in
Cuddalore, about 20 km from Pondicherry, the construction of this
Home for the Aged.
Kalyan Ashram, Kolkata: Located in Chetla (South Kolkata), this
donated two-storey home has been converted into model age care
facility for elderly women. Managed by Help Age India Kalyan Ashram
has a capacity for 10 persons with all the age friendly amenities
essential for a Home for the Aged.

Elder Helplines: In these days of nuclear families, the older generations find
themselves living alone, lonely and often with no one to speak to or seek help
from in cases of medical or other emergencies. On the other hand, those
elderly who still live with their immediate family find themselves strangers in
their own house, shunned by their near ones and often abused only because
they are old and cannot take care of their own needs. In these cases, the old
are denied their Right to Dignity.

What is Help Age India Doing?

The Toll-free Help Age Senior Citizen Helpline offers assistance to older
persons in need of care and protection. It links the elderly to services and
resources for long-term solution to their problems. Helplines provide
information regarding medical assistance and emergency services; gives
advice, guidance and support in calls related to dispute and elder abuse.
Through the helpline, senior citizens have easy access to professional help
from volunteer medical specialists, financial specialist, legal advisers, family
counselors and psychologists. The helpline also coordinates with the police,
NGOs, government agencies, old age homes and centres working for the

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 older persons. Help Age Elder Helplines operates from 23 locations across
the nation.
Outreach in five years:
It is aimed that in 5 years, the Helplines will be operational in 350 districts of
the country. And it would service at least 600,000 queries of and by the
elderly.
Operation:
The helpline is operational six days a week, from 9:15 am to 5:15 pm on week
days, and from 10 am to 2pm on Saturdays. It is operated by trained helpline
counselors supported by social volunteers, social work professionals,
students and interns.
Rescue of abandoned elders, counseling to elders in distress, legal support,
help desks, recreation tours, special talks, information related to services
available, volunteering.
Current Program status:
Runs Elder Helplines in 20 state capitals.
Services Provider:
Rescue of abandoned elders, counseling to elders in distress, legal support,
help desks, recreation tours, special talks, information related to services
available, volunteering.

Research: Ageing is a phenomenon that is least understood in emerging

economies like India. So, research is important to understand the bio-medical
and social aspects of ageing. The understanding so developed would help to
unravel the possible challenges this phenomenon would pose to our society
and some useful insights to deal with the challenges in effective ways.
Demographers, Gerontologist and Geriatricians the world over are making
efforts to understand nuances of population ageing. Besides, there are
multilateral bodies like WHO and UNFPA that are leading the research on
comparative international data on health and other aspects of ageing.
There are voluntary organizations like Help Age International that are
constantly raising issues for research; besides, these organizations are also
conducting research on many aspects of ageing that they encounter while
implementing related programs.

What is Help Age India Doing?

Help Age India being a voluntary organization is focusing on the policy related
research on ageing issues particularly on urgent concerns like poverty, isolation and
neglect. This is done with the view to mainstream the issues pertaining to aged and
ageing in the country.

The extensive experience of Help Age in the field informs the research efforts of the
organization. Accordingly, efforts were made from time to time to understand poverty
in old age and possible ways of poverty alleviation in old age. The other most
important aspect that requires urgent attention is safety and security of the
vulnerable older persons. So every year HI brings out the nuances of elder abuse
prevalent in society.

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Cases in Help Age India: Rajaram Ganpath Patil
Rajaram Ganpath Patil, 74 from Mumbais Ambedkar Nagar in Kandivali (East) was
a mill worker for more than half his life till a near fatal accident severely injured his
leg. Constant dizzy spells led to brain surgery. Patil tried to put up a petty tea stall
but his physical condition increasing age, poor hearing and eyesight made it
exceedingly difficult for him to take on any kind of activity.
Along with the expenditure of seven leg surgeries was the constant need for
medication, with approximately Rs 2,000 being spent on medical expenses every
month. His wife Malati, 60, started vegetable vending to bring in some income. Patil,
who was staying with his wife and grandson, began to feel that he was becoming a
burden on his family. Help Ages Support-a-Grandparent program took him under its
wing, and today he and his family look forward to the monthly ration and money,
which helps keep their family together and gives Patil a sense of independence.

A Reluctant start leads to financial independence for the elderly

Maa Gangadevi Elder Self Help Group (formed under the Support a Gran program)
is a group of 16 elderly (9 actively working) formed in August 2010 in village
Suninda, Nimapara block, Puri District, Odessa. The formation of the group was a
result of the awareness drives like community mobilization meetings organized by
Help Age India. The group started their journey of self-reliance in a small yet
significant way by each contributing a fist full of rice daily.

After 6 months, Help Age supported them through livelihoods seed capital of Rs.
13,500/- which was used to cultivate and sell cauliflower. The profit from the activity
came to Rs. 9400/- which was distributed amongst them first and was additionally
used to give support to 3 destitute elders in their village. The group even helped a
poor family with Rs 300/- and few kgs of rice. This is an example of how the two
pronged approach of welfare and development is greatly helping to empower the
disadvantaged elders in India.

From Farm Labourers to Entrepreneur: A small step forward has led to

financial empowerment for 20 women from Nathbari (Supaul), Bihar. This group was
started with a monthly saving of Rs. 50/- per member by 20 women members
including eight widows, all of them belonging to economically and socially backward
strata of society. By end of August 2012, the group had saved Rs. 26,000/-. Interest
and internal loan rotation ensured that the total financial rotation by the group was as
much as Rs. 79900/- in the last 2 years.
One and a half years after the formation of the group, Help Age supported them with
a livelihoods seed capital of Rs. 20,000. It is then that they decided to do collective
business and bought a Diesel Pump Set (for irrigation in agricultural land) in the
month of August 2012. In two months the group had earned a total income of Rs.
7,800 and a net profit of Rs. 1,950/- by renting out the pump.

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Want to get involved with Help Age India .
This is how.
1. Become a Volunteer :
As help age India grows in response to the need for their services, they
count on the support of volunteers. In the past they have had interns
and volunteers that include graduate and post graduate students who
are taking a break year; housewives, retired professionals, working
professionals and many others who want to make a difference. They
are delighted to benefit from your time and whatever skills you think
you can contribute to Help Age India. Volunteers at Help Age India help
to take calls about cases, support the documentation of best practices,
create communication tools, help at the Early Intervention Center, read
to children and more.

Training
One of their key activities is to help enhance the skills of the elders at Help Age
India. If you are a skilled professional in developmental disabilities and would like to
enhance the skills of their staff please do get in touch with them.

Communications
Writers, photographers, editors, journalists, film-makers or any professionals who
can help with communication activities such as making presentations, brochures,
flyers, films, newsletters; developing press relations; making short films etc.

Fund Raisers
Time and again Help Age India runs programmers to raise funds for various
programmers. Volunteers who believe in giving a chance to elders with
disabilities and help to create a more inclusive society are more than welcome
to help us promote these events.

2. Donations:

FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Help Age India, as a non-profit, depends entirely on the generosity of
individuals and organizations. They strive to help all elderly people with
developmental disabilities, irrespective of financial considerations. Over 40%
of their patient sessions are with underprivileged elders who pay little to
nothing for the high-quality care they receive. Help Age India has a vision to
reach more Aged through research, awareness building, and advocacy. This
vision simply cannot be fulfilled without more funds. For this reason, they are
actively looking for funding. They have tax exempt status in India, the United
States and the United Kingdom, and are certified.

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 Awards & Recognitions:
Over the years Help Age India's work has been recognized by various organizations
and institutions. We are thankful to them for entrusting their faith and belief in our
services and giving us such an honor. It encourages and makes us believe that we
are on the right track and at the same time reminds us of the great responsibility we
carry on our shoulders towards the elderly of our society.
Help Age India receives Chairmans challenge Award:

Help Age India volunteering program with Prudential Process Management Services
(PPMS) has received an award in the innovation category of Chairman's Challenge
Award along with prize money of 5519. Prudential Process Management Services
has been supporting Help Age India for last seven years through volunteering and
involvement of their employees in Help Age India's projects. The employees get to
meet and spend time with the elderly and enrich themselves.
NGO Leadership & Excellence Award 2014 & 2015:

Mrs. Shanta Chatterji (second from right), Member, Governing Body and Mr.
Prakash N. Boragaonkar (second from left), Territory Head, Gujarat, Maharashtra
& Goa, Help Age India, receive a trophy and certificate from Mr. H. E Sim Sitha
(left), Director General, Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority, Cambodia and Dr.
Sanjay Muthal (right), Executive Director, RGF Management Search, in the NGO
Leadership & Excellence Award ceremony organized by ABP News where Help
Age India was recognized and awarded second time in a row for its work toward
the elderly cause.
Awarded VAYOSHRESHTHA SAMMAN (National Award for Senior Citizens):

Mr. Mathew Cherian (second from right), CEO, Help Age India, Help Age India,
receives the Vayoshreshtha Samman 2014 (National Award for Senior Citizens)
from Mr. Thaawar Chand Gehlot (third from left), Minister of Social Justice and
Empowerment, Govt. of India and Mrs. Sumitra Mahajan (fourth from left),
Honble Speaker, Lok Sabha. Help Age India was selected as the Outstanding
Institution for its efforts of working over three decades for the cause of the
elderly.

The BHARAT NIRMAN Institutional Award in Kolkata:

Help Age India was awarded the prestigious Bharat Nirman Institutional Award
against its outstanding services for senior citizens. Mrs. Susmita Ghose (centre),
National Director (SAVE), Help Age India, upholds the trophy which she
received on behalf of Help Age India at the 21st Annual Bharat Nirman Awards
Ceremony on the 14th June 2014 at Kalamandir Auditorium, Kolkata.

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 ICAI for Financial Excellence 2011 2012:

Outstanding contribution to Social welfare 2011:

Best NGO Award:

Healthcare Leadership Award 2012:

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Partners with Help Age India

33
 Boards of Directors & Management team.

Mr. Cecil Jackson Cole Founder of Help Age India

Mr. John F Pearson Trustee of Help Age India
Mr. Samson Daniel Founder of Help Age India in
Mumbai/Madras/Calcutta
Mr. Philip Jackson Chief Executive
Mr.M.M sabharwal President of Help age India

The Management Team

Mr.Amal Ganguli Mr.K.S.B.Sanyal Mr. Mathew

Mr.P.C Sen Mrs.Shanta Chatterji Mr.J.C.Luther

Mr.TS Krishan Mr.Arun Seth Ms.Rumjhum C

Dr.Mrs Asha Padgaonkar Mr.Arun Nanda

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 MAJOR DONORS FOR HELP AGE INDIA

Individuals: Help Age's biggest supporters are its community of individual donors
who contribute to the cause regularly, often without any expectation of returns,
other than the satisfaction of doing a good deed. Among them are school children
as young as five, motivated by teachers and parents, to do their bit for the elderly.

Corporates & Business Houses:

ONGC
Standard Chartered Bank
Master Card
Jaypee Greens
BHEL
CAIRN Energy
IRCTC
GMR
Parrys Sugar Company

Foundations & trusts:

Many of our interventions such as the Restoration of Vision and the Sponsor a
Grandparent programmers receive wide support from Trusts & Foundations across
the country.
Organisations such as the Palriwala Foundation are pillars of HelpAge.

BI-LATERAL & MULTI-LATERAL FUNDERS:

Some of Help Ages biggest programmers are funded by the European Union,
Disasters Emergency Committee (UK), and Department for International
Development (UK), Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and US
Agency for International Development, Japan Foundation, HelpAge International and
Cordaid.

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 Kindly Come and Join hands with

Help Age India

An opportunity to change life and light

up their ending journey on Earth.

36
 Conclusion

The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but
the things you do for others remain as your legacy.

. Kalu Ndukwe

As rightly said in the above quota, being socially responsible is our duty
and obligation towards the society we live in. We are obliged to perform
our social responsibilities towards the society by large number, as an
individual, corporate or any other entity.

There are many organizations and NGO who perform this duty with their
full heart. We see this in the illustration of Help Age India who works
toward transforming lives of elder people in our society.

With the conclusion of this project would like to highlight that if each one
of us contributes a little to the society we live there would be so much of
peace and love in the country, there wouldnt be any needy left in our
society.

When we love, we always strive to become

better than we are.
When we strive to become better than we are,
Everything around us becomes better too.

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Bibliography:
Help Age India Handbook

Webliography:
http://www.helpageindia.org/
http://www.aisccon.org/
http://www.dignityfoundation.com/
http://www.familywelfareagency.org/
http://silverinningfoundation.org/
http://www.agewellfoundation.org/
http://janasevafoundation.org/
http://sheows.org/
http://www.anandamoldagehome.org/
http://www.sobhamct.com/

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